Canada Reconsiders $13 Billion F-35 Purchase from U.S.

Canada is reassessing its $13.2 billion deal to buy American F-35 fighter jets and is exploring alternative options, Defense Minister Bill Blair announced on March 14, just hours after being reappointed to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet.

"Canada is actively looking at alternative options to replace the U.S. F-35 stealth fighters and will engage with other aircraft manufacturers," Blair stated.

In January 2023, Canada announced it would purchase 88 F-35 jets to replace its aging CF-18 fleet, marking the country’s largest investment in its air force in 30 years. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin was set to deliver the first four aircraft by 2026, with the final jets arriving in 2032.

Canada has already paid for 16 aircraft scheduled for delivery next year. Canceling the deal could result in financial penalties, but Blair suggested that Canada may still receive some F-35s while replacing the remaining jets with European alternatives, such as Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen.

Growing Concerns Over U.S. Restrictions

Blair’s remarks came just days after Portugal announced it was abandoning plans to buy F-35s, citing concerns over "geopolitical factors" and potential U.S. restrictions on maintenance, spare parts, and operational independence.

Tensions between Washington and Ottawa have also escalated as President Donald Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Canada as the "51st state". The U.S. president has also increased economic pressure by imposing 25% tariffs on most Canadian imports.

While Trump recently postponed new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products until April 2, he has not ruled out further trade penalties against both countries.

Concerns Over F-35 Dependence on the U.S.

The F-35 stealth fighter costs between $80 million and $100 million per jet, depending on the variant. Over 1,000 units have been delivered to the U.S. military and allied nations, with the fleet expected to remain in service until 2088. The entire F-35 program is estimated to cost over $2 trillion for production and lifetime maintenance.

However, some European military experts and former German officials have raised concerns that the F-35 may contain a hidden "kill switch" that could allow the U.S. to disable the aircraft remotely. Neither the U.S. nor Lockheed Martin has denied these allegations.

Even without a "kill switch", European militaries remain heavily reliant on the U.S. for spare parts, software updates, and technical support. This dependence gives Washington significant leverage over how and when allies can operate their F-35 fleets.

(Sources: CBC, Aviationist)

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