Plane and Simple: Canada to Buy the F-35 Lightning After 15 Years of Debate
by Claire Parsons
A $19 billion cheque has been approved to purchase the controversial F-35 Lightning II fighter jet from American developer Lockheed Martin. Parliament Hill outlined the deal, which will include 16 stealth fighter jets as well as the associated weaponry and start-up costs, such as new hangers. The deal is long overdue, with Canada’s beloved but long-tired fleet of CF-18 Hornets lagging behind the air capabilities of allied and unfriendly states. However, on the mind of defence fanatics and scholars is why the acquisition took so long.
The simple answer is that the deal was back seated due to the 2008 recession during the Harper government. But, the complexities of the F-35 deal cannot be blamed on the recession alone. Defence experts and servicemembers concurred that the CF-18s were reaching the end of their lifecycle by the early 2000s. This led Canada to be a member amongst other allied states to a development team for a new type of fifth-generation fighter jet. Regardless of this invested involvement in the development of the F-35, after the Harper administration paused its negotiations during the recession, the Trudeau government took power and pivoted. The Liberals determined they would hold an open competition for Canada’s new fleet and not limit itself to a deal with Lockheed Martin. After considering a variety of other aircraft, the F-35 would remain the Canadian choice.
The F-35 Lightning II is the Western preference and has already been purchased by the United States, the UK, Australia, Finland, Israel, and others. It is an acclaimed stealth and combat jet and, though known for mechanical errors, is a symbol of the geopolitical unity of the West. The difference in agreements between Canada and its allies is notable in the F-35 acquisition process. Not only did Canada prolong its selection process, but Canada is also paying far more than its counterparts. The official deal with Lockheed Martin states that the 88 aircraft and accompanying bells and whistles will cost the country $19 billion, but Finland, which acquired 65 of the jets in 2021, secured an $11.3 Billion deal to replace their CF-18 fleet. At just under $80 million a jet, the Finnish deal, which also features additional F-35 integration supports, is more affordable. Switzerland purchased 36 of the jets for $8.5 billion.
Canada’s price tag is far steeper than its friends’, prompting questions about the price of allyship and geopolitical decision-making. The better inquiry to be made about the acquisition is the political optics that blocked the procurement. Canadian hesitation to commit to a plane it helped develop was attested to be a financially cautious decision by two different governments from two different parties. In its original rejection of the F-35, the Trudeau government argued that it would be better to opt for a cheaper jet in order to bolster the Canadian Navy. Should that project move forward, will the Navy have to wait fifteen years for its equipment? The alternative to the F-35s was to refurbish the CF-18s to a workable condition. The process of repairing and augmenting the CF-18s would have eaten away at Canada’s defence budget and likely would have proved futile as France and other allies are planning to have a sixth-generation fighter by 2035.
The process of procurement in Canada did not have to be as complicated as it had been. The CF-18 acquisition by Trudeau senior only took three years and was completed with the cabinet assigned-budget. The blockage of the F-35 was a deliberate political process to invest in defence only when it was necessary, as it risked the operation effectiveness of NATO and NORAD. The Ukraine war forced the Canadian hand as Russian aggression pushed closer to allied territory. The risk of the development of a Russian fifth-generation fighter jet is unignorable for the Canadian defence ministry, especially as allies soar further and more effectively than RCAF.
The political points won by delaying the F-35 deal have cost Canada more than $19 billion as efforts to keep the budget tight, and competition open has placed Canada back where it was fifteen years ago. Canada will eventually have to answer for their lack of air contribution while they wait for the first F-35s to arrive in 2026. As war marches on and the Ukrainian air defence episode in Poland shakes NATO by its shoulders, Canada cannot afford to drag its heels about keeping up with its allies. By the time the last F-35s arrive in 2032, and all goes according to projected dates, other countries will have already attained sixth-generation fighter jets. To achieve Canada’s peacekeeping goals, Canada needs to be able to maintain an arsenal that is effective in comparison to its role alongside its allies. If Canada wants to be at the forefront of operations abroad, a swift and effective procurement shows the international community that Canada plans to take such an operation seriously. More so, it shows the trust Canada has in its alliances and displays a prioritization of those serving in the armed forces and their safety. The F-35 procurement is less so a story of capacity as much as it is a Canadian statement on defence. Operational effectiveness aside, if Canada cannot prove that it will invest in keeping pace with the rest of the international community, it should not expect to be invited to the frontlines.
Claire Parsons is in her first year at Queen’s University studying Master’s in Political Studies, specializing in Nationalism, Ethnicity, Peace, and Conflict.
