Key Points and Summary – Canada is quietly doing the hard work to field F-35s—buildings, simulators, and training—despite withholding a final commitment to all 88 jets.
-Canada is legally on the hook for 16 aircraft, with initial deliveries expected to a U.S. base for pilot/maintainer training next year.
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II participating in NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 24 flies over the west coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. Over 130 fighter and enabler aircraft from Greece, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States are training side by side to improve tactics and foster more robust integration, demonstrating NATO’s resolve, commitment and ability to deter potential adversaries and defend the Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emili Koonce)
A Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen participating in NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 24 flies over the west coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. Over 130 fighter and enabler aircraft from Greece, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States are training side by side to improve tactics and foster more robust integration, demonstrating NATO’s resolve, commitment and ability to deter potential adversaries and defend the Alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emili Koonce)
-Prime Minister Mark Carney’s still-pending review cites cost growth and industrial dependence, and has floated alternatives for the remaining 72 jets.
-The RCAF cautions a mixed fleet would raise cost and complexity as CF-18s soldier on into the early 2030s.
-With Russia and China fielding fifth-gen systems, Canada is prioritizing readiness—and exploring uncrewed wingmen—even as politics delay the final call.
Canada Moving Ahead With Prep For F-35 Purchase
The Deputy Defense Minister of Canada, Stefani Beck, stated on October 7 that the military is preparing for the arrival of American-built F-35 stealth fighters, despite the government’s delay in fully committing to the overall purchase of 88 F-35s, announced in 2023.
Beck testified before the tri-party public accounts committee in Canada’s House of Commons on Tuesday, which is studying the latest auditor general’s report on the increased cost of acquiring the stealth jet.
Beck said to MPs, “What we have as direction is to continue with the contract… with the arrangements that we have in place until we hear otherwise.”
“We are full steam ahead, full steam ahead, focused on making sure we’ve got the infrastructure, the pilots, the training in place for the arrival of those F-35s.”
What she is referring to is that Canada is contractually obligated to purchase 16 F-35s; four are already paid for, and eight with money put down on the parts. The first handful of jets are expected to be delivered next year to a US Air Force base, where pilot and technician training are taking place.
Ottawa has already started construction of infrastructure to support the F-35A at two bases identified to host the stealth fighter. A study is also underway within the Department of National Defense around the possibility of fielding uncrewed tactical jets to support the manned F-35 fleet.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie “Mach” Kluesner, F-35A Demonstration Team pilot, performs aerial maneuvers during the Abbotsford International Airshow in British Columbia, Canada, Aug. 9, 2025. The team travels worldwide to demonstrate the capabilities and precision of the U.S.’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Rupiper)
Carney’s Waffling On F-35 Purchase Still Ongoing
However, last spring, shortly after coming to power, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the $27.7 billion purchase from Lockheed Martin.
Carney, who won the April election on a promise to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump, had requested the review by military officials in March because Canada was over-reliant on the U.S. defense industry.
Ottawa has made a legal commitment of funds for the first 16 F-35 aircraft. Although Carney made clear in March that Canada could seriously consider buying the remaining 72 planes from non-US companies, the Defense Ministry review concluded that there was no military sense in splitting the order.
Due to the 16-aircraft commitment to the F-35, changing the remaining 72 aircraft to non-US manufacturers would be very expensive, creating a need for additional supplies, maintenance, and training facilities.
Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, the new commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was put on the spot regarding her support for a mixed fleet of fighters.
She effectively dodged the questions by stating that the Air Force will be required to manage two fleets during the introduction of the F-35, as the current CF-18s are expected to continue flying until the early 2030s.
Speiser-Blanchet did, however, state that operating two separate fleets would be more costly and complicated. “It would duplicate a certain amount of infrastructure and training,” she said.
However, Carney had promised to release the findings of the review for the F-35 by the end of the calendar summer, which was supposed to be September 20. That review has yet to be released, and Prime Minister Carney has been, thus far, silent on the subject.
F-35s Are Needed to Replace Older CF-18 Hornets
The new fleet of F-35As is set to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) aging CF-18s. If the contract is kept, the first four of the 88 planes are expected to be delivered in 2026 and the final 18 in 2032.
In an interview with the CBC in May, Defense Minister Bill Blair said he would examine whether all the jets need to be F-35s or whether there are other alternatives, “particularly where there may be opportunities” to assemble, support, and maintain the jets in Canada.
“The direction the prime minister has given me is to go and look at all of our options to make sure that we make the right decision for Canada,” Blair said.
Speiser-Blanchet also noted that Canada’s adversaries operate fifth-generation aircraft, which is a significant factor moving forward.
“Both China and Russia have fifth-generation fighter aircraft and fifth-generation missiles that are able to go at much greater speeds and with much more that are holding Western allies at risk at this moment in time,” she said.
She told GlobalFlight.com in August that building a modern fifth-generation Air Force was one of her top priorities.
When Will The Final Decision On The F-35 Be Made?
Regarding when the government will finalize its F-35 plans, Minister for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr says Carney “will make a decision when he’s ready”.
“We’re a sovereign country,” he says. “We’ll make our own decisions and we’ll stand on our own two feet.”
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.
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