Canada announces purchase of 88 F-35A Lighting II fighter jets worth $14.2 billion

The Canadian Department of Defense announced the signing of a contract for the acquisition of 88 supersonic fighters

fifth generation F-35 Lightning II. Deliveries will begin in three years.

What is known

Canada will spend on the acquisition of 88stealth aircraft $14.2 billion. At the same time, at the first stage of the deal, the government will finance the purchase of 16 F-35A fighters and related equipment for $7 billion. Deliveries will begin in 2026, but there is a nuance.

Achieving full operational readinessfifth generation fighters in the Canadian Air Force is scheduled for 2032-2034. Lockheed Martin will leave the first aircraft in the United States while Canada prepares the infrastructure. F-35A fighter jets will arrive in Canada no earlier than 2029.

The cost of one aircraft will be $85 million. The United States pays the same amount for fighters. This is because Canada has been funding the development of the F-35 Lighting II since 1997.