Canada receives its first F-35 jets from U.S., as full order remains under review
OTTAWA — Canada has received its first pair of new F-35 fighter jets, with Ottawa still deliberating on how many of the American planes it will buy.
Canada has received its first pair of F-35 fighter jets from the United States, while the country remains undecided on the total number it will acquire. The Royal Canadian Air Force announced the arrival of the two Lockheed Martin jets on social media, sharing a photo from Phoenix displaying one plane adorned with a maple-leaf roundel.
The air force has yet to disclose when pilot training will commence with the new aircraft, which U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra recently described as "the best fighter in the world." Prime Minister Mark Carney has halted plans to proceed with a proposed order for 88 of these stealth fighter jets, potentially opting for a mixed fleet comprising Gripen jets manufactured by Saab instead.
Carney initiated a review of the purchase amid escalating tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated trade and annexation threats. This review was initially intended to conclude a year ago. In a blog post published on Saturday, former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy cautioned that Washington retains control over the software utilized by F-35 jets, potentially limiting their capabilities.
Written by urgent.news from CityNews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
