After long months of negotiations, Defense Minister Anita Anand announced on Monday that she had formalized the contract with Lockheed Martin for a total of 88 F-35 fighter jets, described as the most advanced military aircraft in the world.
Canada plans to pay $19 billion for these fighter jets, which will begin to trickle down in three years.
A first delivery of four jets is scheduled for 2026, before further deliveries of 6 jets in 2027 and 2028. The fleet should be completely delivered to Canada by 2032.
“The F-35 offers greater intelligence, surveillance and surveillance capabilities, significantly increasing awareness of their situation and the highly threatening operating environment,” Minister Anand said at a press conference on Monday.
National Defense estimates that the life cycle cost of these devices over a 30-year period and all associated costs will amount to $70 billion.
In this, we must include maintenance costs and all the equipment necessary for the proper functioning of the F-35.