Canada considers cancelling part of U.S. F-35 order to buy 60 Swedish Gripen
6 hours ago
- #Canada-US Relations
- #Defense Policy
- #Fighter Jets
- Canada is considering replacing much of its planned 88 F-35 fleet with about 60 Saab Gripen fighters, keeping 30 F-35As, as part of a mixed fleet strategy.
- This shift aims to reduce reliance on U.S. defense supply chains and political leverage, while supporting domestic aerospace manufacturing and diversifying defense partnerships under the Canadian Defense Industrial Strategy.
- The decision aligns with broader industrial policy, highlighted by Canada's recent selection of Saab's GlobalEye over Boeing's Wedgetail for a C$5 billion AWACS contract, emphasizing technology transfer and job creation.
- A mixed fleet offers operational benefits: F-35s provide stealth for NORAD/NATO, while Gripens offer lower costs (US$7,000-10,000 per flight hour vs. F-35's US$30,000-40,000), austere runway capability, and sovereign control over upgrades.
- Legal and financial flexibility allows Canada to adjust the order, as only 16 F-35As are firmly committed; the rest can be modified without full cancellation, balancing industrial and political considerations.
- Saab's proposal includes extensive technology transfer, domestic assembly, and potential export production for Ukraine, which could create thousands of jobs in Canada, particularly in Quebec's aerospace sector.
- The move reflects deteriorating Canada-U.S. relations under trade tensions and a strategic pivot toward European partnerships, with potential involvement in programs like the Global Combat Air Programme for sixth-generation fighter development.