(OTTAWA) Ottawa has made a payment of nearly US$100 million as part of a renegotiated deal that should see Canada pick up a larger share of the bill for developing the F-35 than before.
Posted at 1:08 p.m.
The $99 million payout and renegotiated deal come even though the Liberal government has said Canada may not buy this stealth fighter from Lockheed Martin.
The government announced at the end of March that it was entering into negotiations for the acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets, but at the same time it left the door open for the purchase of another fighter, made Swedish, if the talks were to get bogged down with the American company.
Canada is one of eight partner nations involved in developing the F-35, and its most recent contribution means it has contributed US$712 million to the program so far.
Defense officials say the updated deal reflects Canada’s desire to buy 88 new fighters rather than 65 as planned, as well as Turkey’s withdrawal from the F-35 program.
But the renegotiated deal also comes as U.S. officials raised fresh concerns last week about escalating costs and development issues for the stealth fighter.