F-35 Program Advances Uninterrupted, Confirms Defense Official

Canada is advancing steadily in the F-35 fighter program, according to a senior official from the Department of National Defence. Deputy Defence Minister Stefani Beck confirmed this during her testimony before the tri-party Public Accounts Committee, which is reviewing a recent auditor general’s report on increased acquisition costs for the stealth jets.

Overview of the F-35 Program

The Government of Canada is committed to the purchase of at least 16 F-35 aircraft. Currently, four jets have been fully paid for, and eight are under contract for parts. Beck emphasized that the work on the program will continue until further guidance is received from the government.

Recent Developments

• Beck stated that they are focused on the infrastructure, pilot training, and overall readiness for the F-35 jets.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney had requested a review of the $27.7 billion deal with Lockheed Martin shortly after taking office.
• A decision regarding the complete acquisition of 88 jets is expected by late summer, but no announcement has been made yet.

During the testimony, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, expressed concerns regarding Canada’s fleet composition. He indicated that maintaining a mixed fleet of fighter jets could impair interoperability with NORAD, especially given the advancements made by Canada’s global adversaries.

Implications of Mixed Fleets

Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, acknowledged that operating two separate fleets could complicate training and increase infrastructure costs. She highlighted that managing the current CF-18s alongside the incoming F-35s would be essential as the CF-18s are expected to remain operational until the early 2030s.

• Operating mixed fleets could double certain operational costs.
• Both China and Russia are advancing their fifth-generation combat capabilities.

Cost Increases and Challenges

The cost of the F-35 program has escalated from $19 billion in 2019 to a projected $27.7 billion by 2025. This near 50% increase arises from several factors:

• Changes mandated by the U.S. joint project office have led to delays and increased security costs.
• Currency fluctuations in the U.S. dollar impact the overall expenses; a one-cent change in exchange rates can affect the program cost by $250 million.

While no timeline has been set for a definitive decision from the Prime Minister, the matter continues to draw attention, especially given the ambassador’s statements regarding Canada’s defense strategies and alliance operations.