dailynewsnblog
Canada originally procured its fleet of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets in 1982, and the jets were dubbed the CF-18 when they entered service with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The aging fighter jets are near the end of their usable service lives, and a successor is direly needed to defend the skies of Canada. Despite a troubled procurement process, the Canadian government is pushing forward to select a new airframe for the RCAF.
Canada has already made a financial commitment to 30 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth, fifth-generation fighters from the United States. The RCAF planned to purchase 88 of the American jets, but the full contract is now being reviewed due to political tensions between Canada and the US. That has created an opportunity for Saab’s Gripen E, a more rugged albeit technologically simpler light-fighter, to enter the running.
Canada’s Weary Fleet Of Hornets
The CF-18s are becoming more expensive and difficult to maintain due to a shortage of spare parts and their age. Some airframes are nearing 45 years of service, as CBC reports. Canada did purchase 25 used F/A-18 Hornets from Australia when its air force began sunsetting the multirole fighters because it was introducing the F-35. For now, the RCAF is continuing to invest in its aged CF-18s and similarly weary RAAF F/A-18s to keep them in service until 2032.
The RAAF jets were roughly the same age as Canada’s existing fleet and required extensive modifications to match the Canadian CF-18 configuration. Maintaining the current CF-18 fleet while integrating used Australian Hornets has proven to be a high-cost ‘band-aid’ solution that faces severe personnel, technical, and financial hurdles. The Air Force is currently struggling with a significant shortage of pilots and experienced technicians to maintain even the existing fleet.
Seven of the Australian jets were immediately stripped for parts to keep the rest of the combined fleet operational. Costs for keeping the fleet flying until 2030-2032 have been estimated to exceed $1 billion. Even with upgrades, the CF-18s lack modern electronic self-protection jammers and sensors, making them obsolete against advanced modern adversaries. Higher fatigue levels in old airframes also increase the risk of incidents and accidents as they are approaching the limit of their intended operational lifespan.
The F-35 Enigma: Stealth For Canada?
President Donald Trump’s administration has notoriously put pressure on the Canadian government on a number of policy fronts. The situation worsened the problems with the RCAF F-35 procurement plan, which was already under fire for cost increases. This has created a problem for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), where the US Armed Forces may have to deploy its own F-35 fighter jets if Canada cannot afford the cost.
At an original price of $19 billion, Canada originally intended to purchase 88 F-35 combat aircraft in 2022. Then the Trump administration began a trade war in early 2025, when it imposed nearly universal tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Then this February, in retaliation for Canada’s perceived delay in certifying some Gulfstream models, Trump also threatened to ‘decertify’ any aircraft manufactured in Canada. This compounded previous issues, thus a significant reassessment is now underway, especially considering the new cost estimate of over $27 billion.
With the first delivery anticipated in late 2026, Canada secured the latest Block 4 versions of the F-35A, which include the most advanced sensors and weaponry available, ensuring the new fleet is as cutting-edge as possible upon delivery. Canada has also begun paying for long-lead components for 14 more F-35s than the original 16 in order to maintain its position in the manufacturing sequence. Even in light of these investments, Canada is now carefully considering replacing the pending jet billets with the Saab Gripen E.
RCAF: Building A Bridge To Readiness
The Canadian Department of National Defence has taken preemptive measures to ensure they do not experience a significant loss of capability before the first F-35s are introduced. Currently, all 18 airworthy Australian Hornets have been integrated into the RCAF to bolster current squadron numbers. The government is using a combined strategy of early procurement of F-35 components, interim fleet expansion, and proactive training to stay ahead of operational requirements.
Should Canada decide to proceed with the full order of 88 Joint Strike Fighters, or F-35s, the program will take several years, with the last delivery expected to take place by 2032. Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defence Procurement and a former CF-18 Hornet pilot and aerospace industry executive, spoke with Skies+, and in his detailed explanation of the current RCAF modernization program, he gave this remark:
“We need requirements faster. This is a massive step change to the way we’ve done things. We want you to identify projects that you may have thought were years away and bring them forward now.”
The first eight of the RCAF F-35As will be delivered in the coming months to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where pilots will begin immediate training. Canada has already purchased movable facilities to house F-35 jets and maintenance equipment until permanent hangars are finally constructed in 2031. The first active F-35 unit is expected to arrive on Canadian soil in 2028.
![6822773-16x9 - F-35A flies for the 2021 Toronto Air Show [Image 3 of 17]](https://static0.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/6822773-16x9.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=140&h=98&dpr=2)
Trump’s Tariffs Raise Questions For Canada’s Participation In F-35 Program
Are currently paused US tariffs a threat to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s F-35 buy?
The Swedish Option: Gripen E
While Canada officially selected the F-35A years ago as its next-generation fighter, recent cost escalations to over $27 billion alongside political disputes have reopened debates about alternatives. Canada is reportedly considering an alternative fighter that offers complete sovereign control over its airframes and its software by switching to the Saab Gripen E. Fears of a paralyzed ‘cloud’ update system housed on US-controlled servers are driving aversion to the F-35 under Trump’s tenure as US Commander in Chief.
When operating in the severe, isolated conditions typical of the Canadian Arctic, the Saab Gripen E has a pedigree that offers clear deployment and maintenance advantages. The Gripen can operate from 800-meter sections of public roads, frozen lakes, or even short, unpaved runways. The readiness rate of the Gripen fleet was assessed by the RCAF to average around 70% to 80% under these conditions. In the past, the F-35A has experienced decreased readiness, which has notoriously reached as low as 35% and 55% due to its advanced technical complexity.
The Gripen was designed specifically for tough northern regions, and it was designed and built in Sweden. It was also made to be expeditionary and rugged for flexible deployment. A small team with a minimal logistical footprint can refuel and rearm it in as little as fifteen minutes between sorties.
The Gripen can fly and fight in harsh conditions. Ordinary roadways, frozen lakes, or short, makeshift runways of just 2,000 feet can all be used to operate Saab’s tough fighter jet. The F-35A, on the other hand, needs secure hangars and 8,000-foot runways to ensure it will not suffer damage from takeoff, landing, or simply sitting idle in storage.
Canada & Portugal Rethink Plans To Buy F-35s Due To Trump
Two key NATO allies are reconsidering plans to buy F-35s as a result of Trump Administration communications.
No Time To Delay
There are numerous safety and readiness concerns that limit the remaining years that the CF-18 fleet can continue to serve. Not only will the jets continue to grow in cost to operate, but they will be progressively less reliable. The risk of a catastrophic failure in flight is also steadily greater with every year. At the same time, recent months have seen a spike in NORAD responses to Russian Tu-142 aircraft near Canadian airspace, highlighting the need for persistent air patrols.
A modernized fighter force is the first line of defense against present-day threats in the Arctic region. The first F-35s are not expected to reach Canadian soil until 2028, meaning any further delay or re-decision would leave a multi-year gap where Canada has no deployable fighter force. While the Saab Gripen E program is marketed as a more agile and flexible alternative, it is not expected to be faster than the current F-35 procurement timeline.
Saab has made its offer more enticing by proposing a significant industrial package that includes local assembly, which is a major point of political debate in 2026. Procurement would require a new contract negotiation, which experts suggest would absorb years of additional delay. While Saab has argued the Gripen can be upgraded and deployed quickly, switching programs mid-stream still typically resets the procurement clock.
Here’s Why Canada Is Moving Forward With Its Order For F-35 Fighter Jets
A closer look at the status of the controversial procurement program.
The Best Fighter For The Great North
Canada’s Air Force leaders are said to firmly support the F-35 despite political concerns. This is equally due to the F-35 program’s strong ties to the Canadian aerospace industry as well as its unparalleled tactical superiority. Public data from an early review showed the F-35 scoring 95% for military capabilities compared to 33% for the Gripen. Add to that, more than 110 Canadian businesses have contributed to the F-35 supply chain, of which about 30 are still in operation.
Canadian jobs are essential to the F-35 program’s continuation in Canada. Approximately 2,000 to 3,300 people are employed domestically by F-35-related Canadian companies. It was anticipated that the F-35 program would give Canada’s aerospace sector, the fifth largest in the world, a new launch pad toward the future. Since the industry is deeply tied to the aircraft’s global supply chain, any cancellation poses a serious financial risk to domestic businesses.
The Canadian business could lose thousands of high-tech jobs and future contracts worth billions if Canada cancels the remaining 72 aircraft. However, Saab has promised to invest in Canada to offset the change should the Gripen E be chosen as a replacement. Saab says it will establish domestic production facilities in Canada, claiming it would create 12,600 jobs and provide full sovereign control over software and maintenance.
