Overview
- The Royal Canadian Air Force accepted two CF‑35A Lightning II jets at Luke Air Force Base on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, and announced their arrival the following day.
- Those aircraft will remain in the United States to support initial pilot and maintenance training while Canada builds basing and sustainment infrastructure.
- Ottawa has paused the wider 88‑aircraft purchase and is reviewing options, but it remains contractually obligated to at least 16 F‑35s that are in various stages of production.
- Multiple outlets have reported, without official confirmation, that Ottawa quietly paid for additional delivery slots beyond the 16 required; the government has not verified those claims.
- Canada has been a Level 3 partner in the F‑35 program since 2002 and selected the F‑35A in 2022 to replace CF‑18s, yet ongoing debates over software control, costs, domestic industry roles and U.S. political tensions could determine whether Ottawa keeps the full buy or opts for a smaller or mixed fleet.