Canada receives first F-35 jets from U.S., as full order remains under review
Canada has received its first pair of new F-35 fighter jets, with Ottawa still deliberating over how many of the American planes it will buy.
Delivery of first 2 jets accepted at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Ariz., on Thursday
The Canadian Press
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Canada has received its first pair of new F-35 fighter jets, with Ottawa still deliberating over how many of the American planes it will buy.
The Royal Canadian Air Force announced Friday on social media that it received the two Lockheed Martin jets, sharing a photo from Phoenix, Ariz., showing one plane with a maple leaf roundel.
The air force did not immediately say when it will start training pilots with the new planes, which U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra recently hailed as "the best fighter in the world."
Prime Minister Mark Carney has paused plans to proceed with a planned order for 88 of these stealth fighter jets, and Ottawa may instead have a mixed fleet that includes Gripen jets made by Swedish manufacturer Saab.
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Analysis
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Carney launched a review of the F-35 purchase amid U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated trade and annexation threats, and the review was supposed to have concluded a year ago.
Last year, Trump mused about providing allies with jets that have limited capabilities in order to maintain American supremacy, and former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy warned in a Saturday blog post that Washington controls software used by F-35 jets.
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