Carney orders review of F-35 fighter jet purchase from U.S.’s Lockheed Martin
Posted Mar 15, 2025 12:46:38 PM.
Last Updated Mar 15, 2025 03:34:40 PM.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked for a review of Canada’s plan to purchase a fleet of F-35 fighter jets.
The deal with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government is for 88 planes at a cost of about US$85 million each.
A spokesperson for Defence Minister Bill Blair says Carney has asked Blair to look into whether the F-35 contract is the best investment for Canada, or if there are better options.
Blair’s press secretary Laurent de Casanove says the government needs to do its homework given the “changing environment.”
“At this time, the contract to purchase the F-35 remains in place, and Canada has made a legal commitment of funds for the first 16 aircraft,” de Casanove said in a statement to CityNews. “The Prime Minister has also asked the Minister of National Defence to work with CAF/DND to determine if the F-35 contract, as it stands, is the best investment for Canada, and if there are other options that could better meet Canada’s needs.”
“To be clear, we are not cancelling the F-35 contract.”
Carney became Prime Minister on Friday, in the midst of a trade war with the United States and threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Canada.
