Canada has quietly put money down on 14 additional F-35 fighter jets, according to recent reports [cite: n/a]. This move comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding the total number of F-35s Canada will procure and rising tensions with the United States over defence commitments. The purchase signals a continued investment in modernizing the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and fulfilling obligations to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
The decision to increase the order, even as a review of the overall F-35 procurement remains underway, highlights the complexities of Canada's defence strategy. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has faced pressure to explore alternatives, such as Sweden's Saab Gripen, due to concerns about cost, sovereignty, and reliance on U. S. systems. However, U. S. officials have cautioned that reducing the F-35 order or opting for a less interoperable platform could strain the NORAD alliance.
Recent comments from the U. S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, have underscored these concerns, with warnings that a reduced Canadian F-35 fleet could necessitate an increased U. S. military presence in Canadian airspace. Hoekstra stated that if Canada did not proceed with the full F-35 purchase, NORAD would need to be “altered” because the United States would need to increase its fighter presence to address any capability gaps. He also suggested that choosing a platform seen as “inferior” or “less interoperable” with US systems, could complicate defense planning. This has sparked controversy in Ottawa and the Canadian Military, with critics saying Washington is blending military reasoning with political pressure.
As of early 2026, Canada has committed to funding 16 of those jets, which are already in production. Canada's initial agreement was to purchase 88 F-35A Lightning IIs to replace the aging CF-18 Hornets. The acquisition of these additional 14 F-35s, on top of the original 16, signals a significant step, but the final composition of Canada's future fighter fleet remains a subject of ongoing debate and negotiation. The total cost of the initial 88 jets was valued at C$19 billion. Canada's defence expenditures are slated to reach CAD 62.7 billion in 2025-2026, which will bring total defence spending to 2% of GDP.
