CANADA TO GET FIRST F-35 JETS BY 2027
RCAF expects 88 aircraft in country by 2031
Canada is requiring the first nine fully operational F-35 fighter jets to be delivered no later than 2027, according to federal government documents.
Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi has publicly stated the first of the stealth fighters could come as early as 2025.
But the mandatory delivery criteria Lockheed Martin agreed to as part of its winning bid stipulates, “the 9th fully mission capable future fighter platform will be delivered no earlier than 1
December 2025 and no later than 1 December 2027.”
The Liberal government plans to purchase 88 U. S.built F-35s as part of a project expected to cost taxpayers between $15 billion and $ 19 billion. Critics of the purchase have noted, however, the full life cycle cost for the planes is estimated at $77 billion.
The 88th fully operational aircraft would have to be delivered to Canada no later than Dec. 31, 2031, according to the documents outlining the mandatory bid requirements.
Lockheed Martin declined to comment on its delivery schedule for the new jets.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Canadian industry to deliver and sustain the F-35,” the firm added in an email.
The previous Conservative government had selected the F-35 stealth fighter as the Royal Canadian Air Force's new jet, but backed away from that plan amid concerns about the technological problems with the fighter jets and rising costs.
During the 2015 election campaign, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau vowed that his government would never purchase the F-35.
But, once in power, the Liberal government backed away from that promise.
The Liberals announced in March that the F-35 had been selected as Canada's new fighter jet and negotiations with Lockheed Martin and the U. S. government were underway to finalize the purchase. Those negotiations are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Some defence industry observers have questioned whether Lockheed Martin can meet Canada's delivery schedule as other allies are ahead in line for the jets and there are still unresolved technical issues with the F-35.
In April, the U.S. government watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, reported more delays in operational testing that must be completed so full production of the F-35 can begin. There are still hundreds of problems left to solve on the aircraft and companies are redesigning and replacing equipment on the planes that have already been delivered.
“The more aircraft produced and delivered prior to resolving deficiencies, the greater the likelihood that the program will have to retrofit aircraft, at the expense of the government,” the GAO reported.
More than 780 F-35s have
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY MORE (F-35S) UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAINTAIN THEM.
already been delivered to the U.S. military and allies. U.S. Lt. Gen. Eric Flick, the F-35 joint program executive officer, has noted that the advanced technology on the plane is very expensive and that has contributed to the ongoing issues.
The Pentagon has also complained about the F-35's high maintenance and operating costs, although Lockheed Martin has committed to reducing the operating price tag to US$30,000 per flight hour by next year.
Some U.S. lawmakers remain less than impressed. In April hearings, Congressman John Garamendi, the Democrat chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's readiness subcommittee, highlighted that ongoing problem.
“We're not going to buy more (F-35s) until we figure out how to maintain them,” Garamendi said. “It's a fool's errand. It is a waste of money by the taxpayers.”
Canada is a partner in the F-35 program and has contributed more than $ 600 million U.S. for the aircraft's development over time.
Under the F- 35 agreement, Canadian firms can compete for and receive contracts. Canadian firms have earned more than $2 billion in contracts to build F-35 parts, Lockheed Martin says.