In January 2023, the Canadian government finalized the contract with Lockheed Martin to acquire 88 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, aiming to replace the aging CF-18 fleet. However, Ottawa committed to funding only 16 aircraft, the first of which is due to arrive in 2026, and is not legally bound to purchase the remaining 72 from Lockheed Martin.
How about we be able to fully support the planes on Canadian soil without any need to depend on American support whatsoever, so that Trump can’t undermine our defense or betray us to Russia/China/pickyourshittydictatorship. Otherwise, forget it.
We would still require parts. No way are we able to create all parts we need to support the aircraft in Canada. Lack of trust and the ability of them to hold parts should be a no go.
Israel got this in their contract, so there is precident. It seems a totally reasonable demand in the negotiations over this.
In the current Canada-US political climate?
I guess we could and if they say no, we use that to cancel the rest.
In the current climate this shouldn’t make a difference. Every military and IT contract with the US, that can be cancelled, should be.
The contracts should be made with Europe, including self-sovereignty clauses.
The contracts should be made with Europe, including self-sovereignty clauses.
99% sure SAAB offered this up front to try to differentiate themselves from the F35 but that’s from memory.
The only issue is that Europe is still a while away from having a fifth gen or better fighter so if you want one then the F35 is the only currently available option.
For sure. I rather meant that it’s unlikely the US would let Lockheed give us the unmanaged F35 version.
Grippen it is then.
Here’s the original article this one is referencing
The Canadian office of Lockheed Martin had no immediate comment. A spokesperson said that the F-35 has, in effect, already created jobs in Canada because some 110 suppliers have played a role in the F-35’s global supply chain since the project was launched more than two decades ago.
Lockheed Martin did not offer to build the F-35 in Canada, or specifically guarantee Canadian jobs. Instead, it announced a competitive process where the F-35 “partner nations” could bid on supplying components to the jet or offer research and development programs.
It’s not clear what the jobs they’re offering to create are.
Saab is also not commenting on whether or not they’re renewing their original bid for the gripen which would have created 6000 jobs in Canada.
So no plane sales and no jobs it is, then.
My open letter to my do nothing MP asks for the contract to be ripped up like Trump did to CUSMA.
