Delivery Without a Decision: Canada's F-35 Limbo
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Ottawa takes delivery of its first stealth fighters while Prime Minister Mark Carney keeps the final order size and fleet composition under review.
Canada has officially taken delivery of its first two Lockheed Martin CF-35A Lightning II stealth multirole combat aircraft, as first reported by CityNews Toronto, but the arrival comes while the federal government remains undecided on the scale of its long-term investment.
The Royal Canadian Air Force accepted the two 5th-generation jets on Oct. 22, 2016, following their arrival at Phoenix, Arizona's Luke Air Force Base. While the aircraft are now in Canadian hands, the broader procurement strategy remains stalled.
**What Happened**
The delivery of the initial pair of jets occurred despite the fact that Prime Minister Mark Carney has paused the planned acquisition of 88 F-35s. CityNews Toronto reports that Carney initiated a review of the purchase in response to trade and annexation threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. While this review was intended to conclude a year ago, it remains ongoing.
As a result of this hesitation, the Royal Canadian Air Force has not yet provided a timeline for when pilot training on the new aircraft will commence.
**What It Means**
Ottawa is currently operating in a state of procurement improvisation. Rather than a settled long-term defense plan, the government is weighing whether to proceed with the full American order or pivot to a mixed fleet that incorporates Saab Gripen jets.
This uncertainty is compounded by geopolitical pressures and technical dependencies. CityNews Toronto notes that U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has praised the F-35 as the world's premier fighter, but the aircraft's reliance on U.S. infrastructure is a point of contention. Former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy warned in a blog post that Washington maintains control over the software used by the F-35s.
Furthermore, the strategic risk is heightened by comments from President Trump, who last year suggested that the U.S. might provide allies with jets featuring limited capabilities to ensure American military supremacy.
**Opinion: A Strategy of Hesitation**
Taking delivery of hardware while the bill and the fleet size remain under review is a precarious way to manage national defense. By delaying the conclusion of a review that is already a year overdue, the Carney government is leaving the Royal Canadian Air Force in a holding pattern—owning the planes but lacking a clear roadmap for their integration or the finality of the order.