"Choose Another Fighter"

"Obviously we're looking at the important questions around Canada's security and over sovereignty."

"We have to consider facts like interoperability, we have to consider facts like benefits, industrial benefits around the country, something that's being worked out."

"And, so what's happening now is no final decision has been made, and the review continues."

Defence Minister David McGuinty 

 

"Canada has been flying different aircraft from the USAF in NORAD for 40+ years and controls its jets through Winnipeg, and the F-35s stealth is irrelevant in NORAD because Russian bombers do not have air-to-air radar."

"[Hoekstra is] babbling nonsense." 

Bill Sweetman, U.S. aviation writer 

 

"The F-35 remains the most advanced fighter in the world, but too many of them are sitting idle."

"The readiness rates of our aircraft continue to fall short of Pentagon goals."

Republican Senator Roger Wicker

 

"[Estimates for maintenance were factored into future defence spending plans]."

"DMD remains committed to minimizing future cost growth for the F-35 and continues to work with partner Nations acquiring the planes under the F-35 program in implementing appropriate cost containment measure."

Department of National Defence spokeswoman Cheryl Forest 

USAF-Lockheed F-35 Lightning Jet   Soos Jozsef / Shutterstock.com

 

U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra has on occasion relieved himself of frustration over Canada['s hesitation to fully commit to ordering 88 F-35 fighter jets, hovering between settling for a  quarter of that number and turning to Sweden's Gripens to make up the balance; a far less expensive cost with a reliability and performance record that now appears to match that of the F-35s, with far less maintenance and fewer breakdowns. 

 

The U.S., Mr. Hoekstra huffed recently didn't need anything from Canada. Followed by a warning that Canada could face dire consequences should the Canadian government fail to commit  unreservedly to the F-35s. Failure to commit would, he warned, alter the U.S.-Canada NORAD agreement given that the Gripens would not be as 'interchangeable, interoperable' with the F-35s. Moreover, he warned darkly, the US. may have to resort to flying its F-35s into Canadian airspace to meet any perceived threats.

 

A review of Canada's purchase of F-35 prospect had been ordered by the Liberal government following threats by US. President Donald Trump against Canadian sovereignty. Canada has committed to buying 16 of the jets, and whether to proceed with purchasing another 72 of the stealth fighters has yet to be decided. The Royal Canadian Air Force argues that the F-35 is superior to the Saab Gripen.

 

Saab

 

Previously it  was reported, but unconfirmed, that the purchase of 40 F-35s and up to 80 Gripens  was being considered by the Liberal government. The F-35s to be used in North America defence and the Gripens meant for use on other operations. According to those supporting the F-35s, the Gripens cannot be used in conjunction with the stealth fighter since they are not interoperable with the U.S. jets. 

 

Defence insiders reject that contention, marking it as a marketing ploy by manufacturer Lockheed Martin and the Trump administration.  Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic in fact use Gripens that have flown with the F-35s in NATO. There are complicating issues for Canada with the F-35 acquisition given the software updates to the F-35s for operational purposes. The concern is that a hostile government could decide to stop upgrades which would render the jets unusable.

 

The Saab-made Swedish Gripen fighter jet has become a cornerstone of eastern Europe's defense (Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP)

 

Added to the fact that the U.S. continues to own all parts for F-35s purchased by Canada, even those siting within Canadian bases. The issue of spare parts has the potential to compromise Canadian national security or operational effectiveness. Rasmus Jarlov, head of the Danish parliament's defence committee is deeply concerned over his country deciding that the F-35 would remain its sole operational fighter jet in the wake of President Trump's threats over Greenland.

 

An academic paper by the Canadian Forces College noted that the F-35 jets require significant support equipment, and problems procuring spare parts for the planes along with other maintenance issues affect the level of readiness of the fleet. The F-35A, the variant considered purchasing by Canada, achieved a full mission-capable rate of a mere 36 percent in 2023. Unease over costs was augmented when the U.S. government's audit agency reported costs in sustaining the F-35 fleet kept rising, leaving the Pentagon planning to fly the aircraft less than estimated originally, resulting from ongoing reliability issues.

 

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office noted in 2025 that the U.S. had been flying the F-35 since 2011, with significant problems. Availability and use lower than those of other fighter aircraft of the same vintage. "For example, the average availability rate of a 7-year-old F-35A has been about the same as that of a 36-year-old F15C/D and a 17-year-old F-22", the Budget Office report stated.   

"Choose another fighter jet."

"They're in for repairs about half the time or even more."

"The Americans have all the power of actually destroying our air force just by shutting down [parts] supplies."

Rasmus Jarlov, head, Danish parliament defence committee 

An F-35 is seen being assembled at the Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth, Texas. Canada's first F-35 is expected to be delivered this year. (Chris Hanoch/Lockheed Martin)