Forget the F-35? Canada Could Soon Be Making a Big Fighter Mistake That Will Sting

Key Points and Summary – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s 7-month “foot-dragging” on the F-35 deal is a “big mistake” that “jeopardizes national security.”

-The review of the 88-jet purchase, seen as a “power play” against President Trump, is considering a “mixed fleet” of 16 F-35s and 72 alternatives, like the Saab Gripen.

-The Royal Canadian Air Force Commander warns this is a “costly and complicated” “logistical nightmare” requiring “duplicate” training and supply chains.

-While Industry Minister Joly refutes this, the author concludes that “thumbing your nose at Trump is one thing, but thumbing your nose at your national security is quite another.”

Canada’s Foot-Dragging Over The F-35: Mixed Fleet A Bad Idea

Shortly after coming to power this past spring, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the $27.7 billion purchase from Lockheed Martin for the F-35.

That seems, well, rather odd, considering the F-35 is already coming to Canada, as Ottawa has already purchased 16 of the fighters. And, in fact, being a stealth fighter, while expensive, is the best option for Canada by far.

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. But in reality, the issue had more to do with Trump’s stance on tariffs and his calls for Canada to become the 51st state.

“We have alternatives to the F-35, so we will explore those, as the ministers of defense and procurement will explore how the F-35 program could be adjusted, including greater investment here in Canada, greater production here in Canada,” Carney said at a press conference.

“The prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources, particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada,” Defense Minister Bill Blair said.

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-U.S. companies, the Defense Ministry review concluded that there was no military sense in splitting the order.

Saab, manufacturer of the superb JAS-39 Gripen fighter has offered to build factories in Canada for spare parts and possibly an aircraft manufacturing plant to produce the Gripen, bringing jobs and industry to the country.

Changing To A Mixed Fleet is Expensive:

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.

Ottawa is looking at potential alternatives to a $13.2 billion purchase of Lockheed Martin fifth-generation jets, defense minister Bill Blair said, according to CBC, hours after being reappointed to the role by new Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Lockheed Martin told Newsweek in a statement that it values its partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force but that the U.S. and Canadian governments should best address questions about its procurement of F-35s.

“Changing Environment” Behind Canada’s Possible Cancellation:

Canada has a deal with Lockheed Martin to purchase 88 F-35s for approximately $85 million each.

“We need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces,” Blair’s press secretary Laurent de Casanova said.

De Casanove said the contract with Lockheed Martin had not been canceled, and Canada has legally committed to buying the first 16 aircraft. This announcement came one day after Portugal signaled it was considering canceling its acquisition of the high-tech stealth aircraft.

F-35s Set to Replace Older 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 on Friday, 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 Auditor General confirms the F-35 program has SKYROCKETED from $19B to $33.2B before a single jet is delivered.

The Auditor General found major overruns “within DND’s control.”

After years of Liberal delays and backtracking, taxpayers pay more, and Canada still has no jets. pic.twitter.com/arf16GP1kH

— Stephanie Kusie (@StephanieKusie) October 7, 2025

“The direction the prime minister has given me is go and look at all of our options to make sure that we make the right decision for Canada,” Blair said.

Portugal has an aging fleet of F-16s and is now considering European fighters after Trump angered the ruling elites of Europe by stating that they have to share more of the cost of their own defenses.

Defense Minister Nuno Melo told Portugal’s Publico newspaper that Trump’s attitude toward NATO is giving the Europeans pause.

“The recent U.S. stance in the context of NATO and the international geostrategic dimension, makes us think what are the best options, because the predictability of our allies is a factor to be reckoned with,” he said.

If Not the F-35 Or The Gripen, What Are the Other Options?

Another option for Canada is the 4.5th-generation twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft Dassault Rafale, which has “outstanding load-carrying capability and its advanced mission system.”

Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by several European companies, including Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, is known for its advanced avionics, exceptional maneuverability, and versatility in both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. That too is a fourth-generation aircraft.

Replacing the CF-18 with the updated Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet is a non-starter, since it is an American company.

What Is The Solution?

Canada is upset with President Trump, and this power play is all well and good. However, protecting their vast northern borders is a challenging proposition, especially when potential adversaries have designs on the Arctic. They need stealth fighters to protect their borders and to take on adversary aircraft.

They chose the F-35 for a reason. And while the options are all fantastic fighters, the F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter that is the most advanced aircraft in the world.

Thumbing your nose at Trump is one thing, but thumbing your nose at your national security is quite another. And that would be a big mistake.

The F-35 is much more than a fighter; it’s an intelligence-gathering, stealth-enabled, data-fusing node designed to operate as part of a larger, digitally integrated force. That’s exactly what Canada needs for the Arctic, for NORAD, and for the kinds of coalition operations it claims to want to support.

Four F-35s can cover the same territory as several dozen fourth-generation fighters like the Gripen or Rafale.

Killing the F-35 contract then raises the question: what do they do with just 16 F-35s and then 72 European aircraft? Maintaining two distinct planes will be costly in terms of maintenance and spare parts.

Military officials have warned that maintaining two separate fighter fleets would be logistically and operationally inefficient, requiring two distinct training pipelines and supply chains.

A divided training regime would further strain the Canadian Armed Forces’ existing pilot shortage. However, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly,dismissed that view, arguing that “all G7 countries have mixed fleets” and that Canada should pursue a similar model.

“My objective is to obtain more industrial value from Lockheed Martin while continuing discussions with Saab,” Joly stated.

Splitting the air fleet is not a good idea, especially for a cash-strapped government like Canada’s. Each aircraft requires its own logistical supply chain. Aircraft inevitably suffer from wear and tear, even in benign conditions, and their components are not interchangeable between fleets.

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 many military publications.

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