Canada receives first two F-35 jets as purchase review delays final fleet size
The two fighter jets will remain in the United States for training and are not expected in Canada until 2028.
OTTAWA · The Royal Canadian Air Force has taken possession of its first two F-35 fighter jets, though the federal government has not decided how many of the aircraft it will ultimately purchase. The two CF-35A Lightning II jets, built by Lockheed Martin, were formally accepted at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on October 22. A social media post from the air force on Friday featured a photo of one of the jets bearing a maple-leaf roundel. The planes will stay in the United States to begin training Canadian pilots and ground crews. Prime Minister Mark Carney has suspended plans to buy all 88 jets originally ordered and initiated a review of the acquisition.
Why is the purchase under review?
Carney ordered the review in 2025 as relations with the United States worsened, prompted by former president Donald Trump's threats on trade and annexation. That assessment was scheduled to finish a year ago but remains incomplete. In a separate development last year, Trump suggested providing allied nations with fighter aircraft that have restricted abilities to preserve American dominance. In a blog post published Saturday, former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy cautioned that the United States governs the software in the F-35. The air force did not provide a timeline for when instruction with the new fighters would start.
How many jets will Canada ultimately buy?
Ottawa is still obligated to acquire a minimum of 16 aircraft, but it has not confirmed the full order for 88 stealth fighters. Officials are considering other options for the remainder of the fleet, which could include a mix of different models. Swedish manufacturer Saab has proposed its Gripen E jet as a partner to the F-35 and has pledged local production and industrial benefits if Canada chooses it. The original contract, signed in January 2023 after Canada selected the F-35A the previous year, was worth an estimated $19 billion for the jets, equipment and initial support.
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Where will the jets be based and when will they arrive in Canada?
The initial pair of jets will be stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, a site already used for multinational F-35 training. Canada intends to keep its first eight aircraft there during the preliminary training period. The first fighters are not scheduled to arrive on Canadian soil until 2028, with the air force targeting initial operational capability between 2029 and 2030. Preparations are underway at the two main Canadian bases slated to host the fleet: 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec and 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta. Construction and infrastructure work has begun ahead of the aircraft's eventual deployment.
What are the technical details of the aircraft received?
The newly delivered jets are operational and come with standard dual lithium-ion batteries needed to start their engines and operate backup flight controls. Broader issues with the F-35 program have included some U.S. military variants being accepted without radar systems because of supply chain problems with the new AN/APG-85 model. The first Canadian F-35 conducted its initial flight at Lockheed Martin's plant in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 23. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra recently praised the aircraft as "the best fighter in the world." Canada uses the CF-35A designation for its version of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A.
With files from The Globe and Mail, Global News and CityNews