Canada is actively considering potential alternatives to US-built F-35 stealth fighters and will be in conversation with rival aircraft manufacturers, Defense Minister Bill Blair said late Friday, hours after being reappointed to the Post as part of Prime Minister Mark Kearney’s new cabinet.
The statement came a day after Portugal signalled that he was planning to abandon the acquisition of the high-tech war plane.
The country’s reexamination takes place amid a brutal political battle with the Trump administration over tariffs and threats on the integration of the US president into Canada by economic force.
Among Canadians there was a flock of support to kill $19 billion in purchases and find non-aircraft aircraft manufactured and maintained in the United States.
After years of delay, the liberal government signed a contract with US defense giant Lockheed Martin in June 2023 to buy the 88 F-35 jets.
A conversation about Canada’s overall interests and what’s best for the country’s defense is currently taking place with the military, Blair told CBC’s power and politics.
“The fighter was identified as a platform that the Air Force needed, but we’re also looking at other options: whether all of these fighters need to be F-35s,” Blair told host David Cochran.
Canada has already put money on its first 16 fighters. This is expected to be delivered early next year.
Blair suggests that the first F-35 would be accepted and the remaining fleet will consist of aircraft from European suppliers, such as Swedish sub-Gripen, who finished second in the competition.
“The Prime Minister asked me to discuss with other sources, look into them and discuss them with other sources, especially if there might be an opportunity to assemble those fighters in Canada,” Blair said.
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