Canada to buy 88 new fighter jets for $19 billion

Canada has reached an agreement to buy a fleet of F-35 fighter jets to replace the CF-18 jets currently in use, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced on Monday.

The nation finalized the agreement to buy 88 of the fighter jets with the United States and F-35 maker Lockheed Martin for an estimated cost of $19 billion, Minister Anand announced.

“Today, I announced that Canada is acquiring a new fleet of 88 F-35 fighter jets. This project is estimated at $19 billion – making it the largest investment in our  @RCAF_ARC in three decades. This project will ensure that our aviators have the tools they need to defend Canada,” the Defence Minister stated on Twitter.

“The F-35 is the most advanced fighter on the market. It will ensure our ability to defend the second-largest airspace in the world including the Canadian Arctic, will help us meet our commitments with NORAD and NATO, and will enable Canada to deal with new and emerging threats,” she continued.

The F-35 is the most advanced fighter on the market. It will ensure our ability to defend the second-largest airspace in the world including the Canadian Arctic, will help us meet our commitments with NORAD and NATO, and will enable Canada to deal with new and emerging threats.

— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) January 9, 2023

The first four of the jets will reportedly be delivered in 2026. However, they will supposedly be located in the US where Royal Canadian Air Force pilots and technicians will train. The jets are said to arrive in Canada no earlier than 2029.

Canada being one of the eight partner countries incurring the development costs of the jets since 1997, will reportedly pay about USD $85 million per plane.

“This announcement is also great news for Canadian workers and businesses. This project has the potential to contribute over $425 million annually to our economy and close to 3,300 jobs annually for Canadian industry over a 25-year period,” Minister Anand further stated.

This announcement is also great news for Canadian workers and businesses. This project has the potential to contribute over $425 million annually to our economy and close to 3,300 jobs annually for Canadian industry over a 25-year period.

— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) January 9, 2023