The F-35 fighter jet program in the United States is facing yet more delays and cost increases, a development that could impact the Liberal government’s plan to acquire the aircraft for Canada.
The problems centre around the F-35’s Block 4 modernization, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog organization.
Canada plans to purchase the F-35 Block 4 version as it was supposed to have improvements in sensors and weapon capabilities. But Block 4 is at least $6 billion over budget and five years behind schedule, the GAO report said.
The Block 4 modernization won’t be finished until at least 2031.
“The F-35 remains critical to our national defense, as well as that of our partners and allies, and is expected to retain critical roles for decades to come,” noted the GOA report, released Sept. 3. “After nearly 20 years of aircraft production, however, the F-35 program continues to overpromise and underdeliver.”
The Department of National Defence said in an emailed statement that it is continuing to monitor the situation with the F-35.
“Canada is aware of the potential delivery delays outlined in the GAO report,” DND spokesperson Alex Tétreault noted in the email. “The Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) Office will continue to monitor the situation along with all of our F-35 partners.”
Defence Minister David McGuinty did not provide comment about the latest development concerning the Lockheed Martin-built fighter jet.
The U.S. military’s F-35 program office did not provide comment.
Erica Tierney, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson, noted that the F-35 was combat-proven, offered the most advanced capability and technology and “is the most affordable option to ensure America and its allies remain ahead of emerging threats.”
“In partnership with the F-35 Joint Program Office, we will deliver 170-190 F-35s this year and continue fielding Block 4 capabilities to ensure the F-35 maintains its unmatched dominance in the skies,” Tierney added in an emailed statement.
Canada had planned to purchase 88 F-35s, but Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of that purchase in the wake of threats against Canadian sovereignty by U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. has become increasingly hostile to Canada, with Trump continuing economic efforts to punish Canada and push for this country to become the 51st state.
At this point, Canada has committed to purchasing only 16 F-35s.
Former Department of National Defence procurement chief Alan Williams said the latest report on the F-35 was troubling as it indicated the U.S. was having difficulty modernizing the aircraft to deal with future new threats.
“The government should be particularly concerned over the delays in the implementation of the Block 4 software upgrade package and the escalating associated costs,” Williams said. “It is now in the seventh year of this $16.5-billion upgrade designed to address new threats that have emerged since (the U.S. Department of Defense) established the aircraft’s original requirements in 2000.”
Reuters news service reported Aug. 7 that the Canadian military was recommending that Canada stick with its proposed purchase of 88 U.S.-built F-35s. That recommendation didn’t come as a surprise for observers since the Canadian Forces originally lobbied for and selected the American fighter jet. The Canadian military leadership is also very close to their U.S. counterparts.
McGuinty previously said the Liberal government
would take its lead on the F-35 decision from the military
as he expected a report on the fighter jet to be delivered shortly.
DND, in a previous statement to the Ottawa Citizen, noted that Canada would receive its first four jets in 2026, followed by four more in both 2027 and 2028. The first eight will go to Luke Air Force Base in the United States to enable the training of Canadian pilots, and the first aircraft will come to Canada in 2028, the statement added.
Any decision to stay with the American jet comes as the price of the F-35 for Canada continues to increase. In June, Auditor General Karen Hogan issued a report that Canada’s F-35 purchase had already jumped in cost from $19 billion to $27.7 billion. Another $5.5 billion will be needed to achieve full operation capability for the planes, Hogan added.
Williams and various defence analysts have warned that the F-35 represents a strategic vulnerability for Canada since the U.S. will have total control over
software upgrades
and spare parts on the aircraft.
The
Ottawa Citizen reported May 5
that the U.S. would own all parts for Canada’s F-35s even when they were located at Canadian bases.
In addition, retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, the air force general who originally recommended Canada buy the F-35, has
said the purchase should no longer go forward as planned
because the U.S. has become so untrustworthy.
Some retired military officers as well as defence analysts from DND-funded think tanks, however, have argued that Canada should proceed with its entire F-35 purchase because it needs to remain a strong U.S. ally. Supporters of Canada’s F-35 purchase also point to the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts that Canadian companies have earned by supplying parts for the U.S. aircraft.
But on Feb. 28 the National Post reported that Trump had told Lockheed Martin he wanted those contracts back in the U.S. after the Canadian deals came up for renewal.
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here:
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