DefenseCanada makes payments for 14 additional F-35 jets amid procurement review
Canada has begun making payments for key components tied to 14 additional Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, even as the government continues to review its long-term fighter procurement plans, according to sources cited by CBC News.
The reported payments are for “long-lead items,” components that must be ordered well in advance of final aircraft assembly. The expenditures are separate from Canada’s initial order of 16 F-35s, which are scheduled to begin delivery to the Royal Canadian Air Force later this year.
Sources told CBC that the payments were necessary to preserve Canada’s place in the production queue and avoid being displaced by other customers. The funding for the additional 14 aircraft has not been publicly disclosed.
In response to questions, Canada’s Department of National Defence declined to confirm whether new funds had been committed, stating that the review of future F-35 acquisitions remains ongoing.
The review was launched by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government last year in the context of trade tensions with Washington, including U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automotive exports. Defence Minister David McGuinty said in January that Canada had acquired 16 F-35s but that further purchases were still under consideration.
Canada originally selected the F-35 to replace its aging fleet of Boeing CF-18 Hornet fighters and announced plans to acquire up to 88 aircraft over time. The government has not formally altered that plan.
Officials have indicated that Ottawa could proceed with the full F-35 order, reduce the total number of aircraft, or opt for a mixed fleet that includes another platform such as the Saab Gripen. Saab has proposed assembling Gripen fighters in Canada, a move that could support domestic industrial activity.
Defence spending related to the CF-18 replacement program increased by C$476 million (about US$350 million) at the end of 2025, though the government has not provided a detailed breakdown of those costs.
Analysts say that once payments for long-lead items are made, reversing course becomes more complicated, as financial and contractual commitments accumulate. Former senior defence officials have described the advance payments as a standard step in maintaining procurement timelines while policy decisions remain under review.
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