Ottawa says it will be investing $19 billion over the next nine years to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets, which are meant to replace its fleet of outdated CF-18 Hornets by 2032.
National Defence Minister Anita Anand made the announcement on Jan. 9, saying it’s the largest investment made in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 30 years. The fighter jets will be produced by the American company Lockheed-Martin.
“It is the most advanced fighter on the market and it is the right aircraft for our country,” Anand said of the F-35 during a press conference on Jan. 9.
The government’s commitment to purchase the jets will be carried out in several tranches over the next nine years, said Anand, which will begin with 16 jets.
“We expect the first four aircraft to be delivered in 2026, the next six in 2027, the subsequent six in 2028—with the full fleet to arrive in time to enable the phase-out of the CF-18s by the end of 2032,” Anand said.
The minister added that the $19 billion investment will also be used for upgrades to air force bases at Bagotville, Que., and Cold Lake, Alta., to accommodate the new jets.
Anand was asked by reporters why the number of F-35s the government was looking to purchase had increased after previously seeking only 65 jets.
“We conducted a robust analysis and made sure that we were set to acquire the recommended number of aircraft for Canada,” Anand said.
“In addition, we need to ensure that especially in this changing global strategic environment, we are fulfilling our obligations to NORAD and to NATO. And never has it been more clear that this is the moment that we need to ensure the defence of our country, the protection of our country, including our Arctic.”
$70 Billion
While procuring the jets and upgrading facilities will cost around $19 billion, officials speaking at a technical briefing prior to Anand’s announcement said that maintaining the jets over the next several decades will cost around $70 billion.“We’re talking about an estimate that goes out decades into the future and assumptions around inflation rates, and particularly exchange rates, have quite a significant impact on calculations,” said an official with the Department of National Defence, during the briefing on Jan. 9.
The Liberal government previously said in 2015 that it would not be purchasing F-35 jets, but would instead be launching an open competition to replace the CF-18 Hornets.
“Did Mr. Trudeau make a mistake in 2015 when he said that Canada did not need these planes?” a reporter asked Anand today.
“I wish to reiterate, first of all, that it was an open and competitive and fair process. It was also robust,” said Anand.
“And now we know that this is the best decision for Canadians and also for the best price. We know that because of the competition,” she added.
Anand said that the F-35s would also be used for Canadian Arctic defence and that the federal government would further be procuring “strategic tankers to provide air-to-air refueling capability,” which will increase the jets’ flying range.
“With Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine and China’s increasingly assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, this project has taken on heightened significance,” Anand said of the F-35 purchase.
