Canada’s F-35 Fighter Jet Purchase Plan Draws Scorn

Plans by the Canadian military to purchase F-35 fighter jets from Lockhead Martin Corp. is drawing scorn from the country’s lawmakers, who are asking how purchasing the planes from an American company would benefit the Canadian economy.

According to a June 5 article by Reuters, the Canadian military plans to purchase 65 of the F-35 fighter jets with a total price tag of $8.22 billion. According to Pentagon estimates cited by Reuters, each plan could cost as much as $139 million.

The purchase of the jets is part of a larger military spending program by the Canadian government, with the planned purchase of the F-35 jets being part of a larger plan to replace an aging fleet of CF-18 “Hornets,” the news agency said.

The recommendation for purchasing the F-35 jets has not yet been announced by the administration of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but Canadian politicians are already crying foul on the deal.

New Democratic Party MP Matthew Kellyway cut right to the heart of his party’s apparent opposition to the plan, according to the Toronto Sun.

“Could the minister at least tell us if the Canadian companies are guaranteed work?”

The Sun went on to quote Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Bernard Trottier, who claimed no decision had yet been made on the purchase of the F-35 fleet, despite the Reuters report. Trottier did not directly address the question of whether Canadian companies would get any of the work.

“No decision has been made on the replacement for the CF-18 fighter jet fleet,” Bernard Trottier said. “Our government will finish a number of reports related to defence capabilities, adjustable benefits, costs and other factors with a view to replacing our CF-18 fleet.”

If the Reuters report holds true, Canada will become just the latest nation to shore up its air defenses with the purchase of the F-35 jets, or a fleet of them.

As previously reported here on The Inquisitr, Norway purchased six of the F-35 jets last year and wanted to ask its parliament for another six, at a cost of nearly $1.23 billion. The Sun pointed out that other nations have jumped at the chance to purchase the F-35, including Australia, Japan, Norway, and South Korea, among a group of 11 nations who have made purchases or orders in recents years.

Canada was part of a group of nine nations who helped front the $150 million price tag to design the F-35 jet, Reuters said.

“The company says its operational F-35s hit a milestone in early April by surpassing 8,000 flight hours since testing began,” the Sun reported. “The F-35 completed its first in-flight refuelling last year and also tested the delivery of bombs and engaging targets in mid-air.”

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