Canada invests $19B for 88 F-35 fighter jets, procures Australian F-18s to supplement fleet | FULL

Canada has finalized a long-awaited deal to replace its aging fleet of CF-18 fighter jets with 88 of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighters set to begin arriving in the coming years, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced on Monday.

While the project budget is $19 billion, officials said in a technical briefing Monday morning that the cost estimate for the lifecycle of these fighter jets is expected to land around $70 billion.

The first aircraft are set to be delivered in 2026, officials said, and the full fleet is expected to reach operational capability between 2032 and 2034.

“The F-35 advanced fighter aircraft fleet will ensure that our aviators have the long-term ability to defend the second largest airspace in the world,” Anand said during the Monday announcement.

Anand also announced that Canada has procured Australian F-18s to supplement its existing fleet of CF-18s.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9396221/military-fighter-jet-plan-anita-anand/

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