F-35 Fighters in Canada Controlled by U.S.

"[F-35 spare parts are centrally managed by the United States] for the benefit of all customers."

"When pooled sustainment spares are incorporated into an F-35 air vehicle or other end item, title to the spare transfers to the participant who has title to the air vehicle or end item." 

Andree-Anne Poulin, spokesperson, Department of National Defence

 

"As one of the decision-makers behind Denmark's purchase of F-35s, I regret it."

"I can easily imagine a situation where the U.S.A. will demand Greenland from Denmark and will threaten to deactivate our weapons and let Russia attack us when we refuse."

Rasmus Jarlov, MP, Conservative People's Party, Denmark

Royal Canadian Air Force personnel visited a U.S. Air Force base in Alaska in March for discussions on the F-35. Photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney /354TH FIGHTER WING/U.S. AIR FORCE

The United States exerts sovereign control over the F-35s sold to other countries in a device written into the jets' sales contract. The planes may be purchased to become the property of other nations, but the spare parts they will need remain in the control of the United States. As does the software installed in the planes. The government of Denmark discovered to its incredulous dismay just how much of an interference this situation could create for them when the U.S.government oversaw components stored in Denmark for Danish F-35s, to ship them to Israel.

 

The Danish government was forced to acknowledge it was helpless to block the U.S. decision, despite that it violated the country's foreign policy. This, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump was waxing belligerently on taking Greenland, by force if need be, by sales agreement if that could be arranged, from Denmark. All of which highlighted the ownership-and-control vulnerabilities built into the purchase of the F-35 fighter craft.

 

Rules governing the F-35 parts were contained in a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that noted the parts remain the property of the U.S. government -- until such time that they are installed on aircraft in the possession of and owned by another government. Canada will own the parts but only when they have been installed on Canadian F-35s, Canada's Department of National Defence confirmed. Bases in Cold Lake, Alberta, and Bagotville Quebec are the locations where spare parts are to be stored in dedicated warehouses.

 

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces demurred when asked whether an examination has taken place to determine whether the issue of spare parts could compromise Canadian national security, much less operational effectiveness. Canada has financially committed to the purchase of the first 16 jets of the 88 F-35s that comprise the entire order from manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

 

The U.S. also retains control of all aspects of software upgrades required to keep the F-35 airborne. It has been anticipated that, although critics pointed out the incongruencies involved in spare parts and software under the control of another nation, that the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence will continue to recommend to the Government of Canada that their acquisitions proceed as per original plan. Despite doubts, both appear wedded to the pre-Trump trust and integration of the Canadian and American militaries.

 

While many Canadian defence industry executives deplore the Canadian military leaders' commitment to U.S. military purchases, calling for more equipment from Canadian sources for the Canadian Forces, the air force general who originally recommended that Canada acquire the F-35 fighter jets now states it should not go forward in view of the U.S. government's having transitioned from an ally to an  untrustworthy opponent. 

 

The former head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt.-Gen.Yvan Blondin, initially convinced the F-35 to be the best fighter jet for Canada, has backtracked that view, in a reflection of President Trump's actions.

 

F-35 Fighters in Canada. Image Created by Ideogram

"Reliance on a U.S. defence umbrella, a critical factor since the end of WW2 for so many countries, is no longer guaranteed."

"No affected country can afford to close its eyes and hope that 2026 or 2028 elections in the United States will bring everything back to 'normal' ... and not happen again."

"The toothpaste cannot go back in the tube."

Retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin