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Canada Reviews F-35 Fighter Jet Contract Amid Public and Strategic Concerns

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is reassessing the $19 billion deal as public opposition grows and questions about U.S. control and alternative options arise.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Sackett, a dedicated crew chief assigned to the F-35A Demonstration Team, marshals an F-35A Lightning II after it lands for the Southernmost Airshow Spectacular at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, on March 27
FILE - U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft F-35 performs aerobatic maneuvers on the third day of the Aero India 2025, a biennial event, at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II in flight.
Photo by NATO via Flickr.

Overview

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney has initiated a review of Canada's $19 billion F-35 fighter jet contract, with the potential to cancel the purchase of 72 jets beyond the 16 already paid for.
  • A Nanos poll shows 62% of Canadians support or somewhat support canceling the contract, reflecting widespread public skepticism about the deal's financial and strategic implications.
  • Critics have raised concerns about U.S. control over the F-35's software, which could limit Canada's operational independence and create vulnerabilities in its defense capabilities.
  • Lockheed Martin has proposed creating more Canadian jobs if the full order is maintained, while Sweden's Saab AB has offered to build its Gripen E jets in Canada as an alternative.
  • Canceling the contract could result in financial penalties and further strain Canada-U.S. relations, already tense under President Donald Trump's administration due to tariffs and annexation rhetoric.