Canada takes delivery of first F-35s while Ottawa still reviews full order size
The RCAF received its first two CF-35A jets at a U.S. training base even as the government keeps the size of its planned 88-jet buy under review.
What to know
- Canada has received its first two F-35A fighters, stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for training rather than in Canada.
- The planned 88-jet order remains under government review, with reporting across multiple outlets emphasizing the purchase is not finalized.
- Saab is lobbying for a mixed fleet, offering to build Gripen fighters in Canada alongside the F-35s.
- Online debate centers on sovereignty and dependence on U.S. software/support versus the F-35's technical superiority over alternatives.
The dispute Whether Canada should prioritize sovereignty by diversifying or canceling the F-35 buy, or accept dependence on the U.S. because the jet is technically superior and a mixed fleet is unaffordable. · positions read across 28 posts and comments
Canada should cancel or scale back the F-35 order because U.S. control over the jets is a political and sovereignty risk.
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“I understand the F35 is a great military plane, but I do question the value of it and the need to really have this when Trump & Co can determine if you can even use it at all. I think it is better to abandon this deal and cancel orders”
Important-Anywhere20 · Reddit ↗
Claims of a software 'kill switch' are overstated; mission data updates add capability but aren't required for the jet to function.
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“The aircraft does not require a "phone home" to turn on, or take off, or do anything. It does use mission data files that are produced in the US; these add capability... but are not required for the aircraft to work”
McFestus · Reddit ↗
Even if inferior, diversifying suppliers has sovereignty value, since a dependence on a single 30-year U.S. commitment is risky.
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“Military capability is very often sacrificed in the name of defense sovereignty... The F-35 is a 30+ year commitment to the U.S. Its better to have some options even if they aren't the best ones (IMO).”
joesph01 · Reddit ↗
Operating a mixed fleet is unaffordable and the F-35 remains superior to alternatives on capability grounds.
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“Canada couldn't afford the logistics of operating two different fighter jets... our meager military budget barely keeps the lights on at military bases as it is.”
the_chin2 · Reddit ↗
Royal Canadian Air Force Operator of the new F-35 fleet
Micael Johansson Saab Chief Executive
Mark Carney Canadian Prime Minister (referenced by commenters)Lockheed Martin F-35 manufacturer
How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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3
Saab pitches Gripen for a mixed Canadian fleet alongside F-35s
Saab offered to build Gripen fighters in Canada, with CEO Micael Johansson seeking political support for a mixed fleet flying alongside the country's F-35s.
“a military aircraft that needs a heated hangar is fucking crazy for an arctic country.”
— Ragnarok_del, Reddit commenter · source -
So what exactly is the mission that F-35 is better for? Deep penetrating strikes in hostile terrain against a modern adversary? Is that what Canada needs? The best defense is a good offense, and the F-35 is essentially the most invisible craft, so yeah, but it's also a massive sensor array. How about air defense against Russian fighters and…
2 more of the top 3 · 16 posts in this stretch
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but some say it's more an issue of piloting skill than the type of aircraft Those aren't opinions you've heard from actual pilots. I laid it out in another post, but the F-35 isn't really a fighter . It's the most advanced and invisible sensor-with-missiles the world has ever seen. Not only could it take out a Gripen (and anything else) long…
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You should wake up. The US wanted Russia in the G20. Russia and the US wanted a photo op with all the G20 countries together, but the other countries balked at it, so the photo OP the US and Russia wanted was pulled. The fact that the US invited Russia to the G20 in the first place is a huge red flag. The US also made a deal with Russia to import…
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Outlets confirm Canada's full 88-jet order remains under review
Coverage from Global News, CTV News, Castanet and the Globe and Mail notes that while the first jets have arrived, Ottawa has not committed to the full planned purchase.
“It’s hard to get overly excited about the “delivery” of the first F35 when it will remain in Arizona for the foreseeable future.”
— HalJordan2525, Reddit commenter · source -
9 outlets first by Global News, 13d ago · also Simple Flying, CityNews Edmonton, CTV News, Castanet, CityNews Vancouver, Toronto Star +2 · read ↗
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Military capability is very often sacrificed in the name of defense sovereignty. Its not purely about the economic gain, even if he pitches it as one to the average Canadian. I can list a dozen different weapon platforms that are inferior in one way or another to one produced in the U.S, but I also understand the value of being able to make it…
2 more of the top 3 · 7 posts in this stretch
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You said Russia has 1.5 million troops, which when you multiple that by 20, that is only 30 million. So Russia doesn’t have enough troops to hold a population of 40 million, even if none of their troops got killed in the process. Which we can see as they struggle to hold even 1/3 of Ukraine. That 1 to 20 metric will be even worse for a water…
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Canada couldn't afford the logistics of operating two different fighter jets. Well, we could but our meager military budget barely keeps the lights on at military bases as it is. Our politicians would never approve of operating two jets because of the cost
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RCAF receives its first two CF-35A jets at Luke Air Force Base
The two aircraft, the first of a planned 88-jet fleet, arrived at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where eight Canadian F-35s will be based to support pilot training; the first jets are expected to reach Canada in 2028.
“The RCAF received its first two CF35As yesterday at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The future of air and space power is built on more than equipment alone,…”
— Royal Canadian Air Force -
3 outlets first by Мілітарний, 15d ago · also The Defence Blog, Defence Industry Europe · read ↗
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first by FlightGlobal, 13d ago
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The aircraft does not require a "phone home" to turn on, or take off, or do anything. It does use mission data files that are produced in the US; these add capability (like new signatures of new enemy radars) but are not required for the aircraft to work; you can still use the aircraft with last week's. It's like downloading new GPS maps to your…
2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
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I understand the F35 is a great military plane, but I do question the value of it and the need to really have this when Trump & Co can determine if you can even use it at all. I think it is better to abandon this deal and cancel orders, there are enough alternatives which might not be as good, but would for sure do most of the job.
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Right... Not to do with stealth though. You can't have software suddenly make the plane a different shape or be made out of different materials. All modern aircraft require software updates. China fields a new radar? Need a software update to be able to recognize it. Etc.
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background
First Canadian F-35 makes its maiden flight in Texas — The first CF-35A built for Canada flew for the first time ahead of delivery to a U.S. training base.
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background
Canada approves government-to-government F-35 acquisition deal — Canada signed off on the agreement to buy F-35A fighters to replace its aging CF-18 Hornet fleet, setting the 88-aircraft program in motion.
What people are saying 14 voices from 1 site · best of 28 · verbatim
- Will the full 88-jet order actually proceed, or will Ottawa reduce or cancel part of it?
- Does the F-35's reliance on U.S.-produced mission data files amount to a meaningful control point over Canadian use of the aircraft?
- Nov 3
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Good point, we need to think long term. What is Russia doing? Do they have a better 5th gen fighter in the works right now that will be operational in the next 40 years? What is the US doing? Can we really rely on them as allies for the next 40 years? (I would say no). Do we have time to join one of the non-US 6th gen fighter programs? Would it be…
- Nov 2
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That all makes sense to me, and none of it is an overwhelming argument that we must have F-35's right now.
- Oct 31
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More money to the consultants please! The f35 is not being replaced. We can’t manage a multi-plane airforce let alone the supply lines needed to shift to an alternative. The f35 is a multination project. Magellan Aerospace manufactures parts for all 3 american variantsz
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So what europe has been buying gas from Russia this entire time? The us is still providing tbe lions share of the military help and most of the intelligence
- Oct 30
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That's the US's rates because they've made a conscious decision to maximize procuring more aircrames instead of building out their spare parts inventory (most likely because of something goes hot with China it's much easier to ramp up parts production than airframes). Other countries who didn't make that choice are seeing incredible MC rates such…
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We have. We've recieved 2. If gripen can't deliver any gripens before lm fills our needs, that's their loss. No downside in letting them try.
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The reality is we need as many planes as possible as quickly as possible. The answer to that is "order as many F-35s as LM will let us." Saab's delivery timelines are atrocious.
- Oct 26
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Well we wouldn't, like you said this entire hypothetical is absurd. I still don't know why you brought it up in the first place.
- Oct 25
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No expert,but with the changes in warfare (drones) I wonder if the wonder jet will be everything they say?
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That's the thing, without all the extra stuff that other offerings don't have in the first place, it's still a stealth fighter capable of everything that the other options are. So why opt for a product that on its best day is still not as good as the F35 on its worst? It's makes absolutely zero sense.
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It would lose a significant portion of its survivability. The ESM suite, non-cooperative target recognition, tactical Datalink, self defence suite... Those are key pieces and honestly the secret sauce. I'd rather have the Korean fighter if that was the case
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Are you drunk? You’re mixing up the conversation. You’re using things I said as thins you said and things you said as things I said
- Oct 24
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That was not due to any problems with the Gripen platform itself. There were however allegations of corruption, which were never proven.
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We spend money buying used f18 and keeping them air worthy and the price per unit increased on the new f35 .