Canada is reevaluating its planned purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets over the escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa in what has become a flash point in bilateral relations between the two allies.

Canada’s rethink on F-35 jets sparks US warnings about NORAD, sovereignty, and Gripen bids— all reshaping North American defense strategy.

Each F-35 costs tens of millions of dollars to build, and the Defense Department had about 620 of them in 2024, according to a government report.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is warning of consequences to the continental defence pact if Canada does not move forward with the purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets.

Canada was long expected to buy the F-35 Lightning II to replace its aging CF-18 fighters—but political tensions with America, and a surprising offer from Sweden, have upended these assumptions.

The United States has cautioned Canada against reducing its planned purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, emphasizing that a decrease could lead to US fighter jets patrolling Canadian airspace for security reasons.

The F-35 was not built to win dogfights, but to operate smoothly at long ranges and over long periods of time.

OTTAWA — The NDP says it wants Prime Minister Mark Carney to cancel contracts for U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets — including the 16 Canada has already committed to buying.

If Canada doesn’t go ahead with its F-35 deal, the U.S. would have to buy more of the jets for its own air force, the U.S. ambassador says

While the F-35's per unit cost is similar to other modern fighters, its lifecycle expense is higher, although it offers unparalleled capabilities.

US warns they will send fighter jets into Canadian airspace if F-35 deal doesn’t go through - Cost of F-35 advanced fighter jet program has risen by $8 billion in the last three years

Lockheed Martin has announced an investment of more than one billion dollars to improve the daily performance of the F-35 fighter jet. The funding will increase the availability of spare parts. It will also expand repair capacity.