Canada May Cut F-35 Order, Consider European Jet Fighters

Canada is the latest U.S. ally to turn against acquiring F-35s by considering to cut its order for the stealth jets and make up the shortfall by buying Saab Gripen jets or some other European aircraft.

Amid a groundswell of support among Canadians to cancel the $19-billion purchase, Canada is reviewing its F-35 purchase, even though payment for the first 16 aircraft has already been made, according to a report by the CBC quoting Canada's new Defense Minister Bill Blair.

Canadian public opinon, like in Germany and Purtugal is concerned over the so called "Emergency Switch" that allows the Pentagon to retain control over all exported aircraft and switch it off if its use is not dictated by Washington's foreign policy dictats.

The minister said that Canada is actively considering potential alternatives to the American F-35 and plans to hold talks with rival aircraft manufacturers. “It is the fighter that has been identified by our air force as the platform that they need, but we are also looking at other alternatives — whether all fighters need to be F-35s,” Blair said.

"The Prime Minister has asked me to go and study these issues, as well as discuss them with other sources, in particular, where there may be opportunities to assemble these fighters in Canada," the Defense Minister said.

Blair suggested that the first aircraft could be accepted, and the rest would be replaced with European-made aircraft, such as the Swedish Saab Gripen, which came in second place in the competition to buy new fighters for Canada.

However if Canada does not go ahead with the full purchase under the contract, some penalties may apply.

Another factor for Ottawa to consider it that Canadian aerospace companies are part of the F-35 supply chain, which contributed $1.3 billion to the country's economy between 1997 and 2021.

Since the war of tariffs broke out between Washington and Ottawa, a fierce anti-U.S. sentiment has swept common Canadians with many refusing to buy U.S.-made goods such as alcohol agricultural produce.