Canada receives first two F-35s as full purchase remains under review
Canada has received its first two Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters, beginning the replacement of its aging CF-18 fleet while the government continues to review how many of the next-generation aircraft it will buy.
The Royal Canadian Air Force received the jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on October 22, 2026, and announced their arrival the following day. Designated CF-35As in Canadian service, the aircraft will remain in the United States to support pilot training.
The delivery comes nearly four years after Canada announced an agreement to acquire 88 F-35As. Prime Minister Mark Carney subsequently ordered a review of the purchase amid deteriorating relations with Washington, leaving the eventual size of the fleet unresolved even as the first aircraft begin to arrive.
Ottawa has been considering alternatives that could include a mixed fleet of F-35s and Saab Gripens, but no decision has been announced.
Under Canada’s published procurement plan, the first eight fighters will be based at Luke’s F-35 pilot training center while facilities are prepared for the aircraft in Canada. The first arrivals on Canadian soil are scheduled for 2028.
The RCAF has not provided a pilot training start date for the F-35s.
Canada selected the F-35 following a competition in which the Lockheed Martin fighter and Saab’s Gripen remained the final eligible contenders. The government entered negotiations for the F-35 in March 2022 and announced the acquisition agreement in January 2023.
The purchase also includes weapons, training, software support and infrastructure needed to operate the fleet. Canada is preparing fighter facilities at Cold Lake, Alberta, and Bagotville, Quebec, as part of the transition.
The new fighters are intended to replace the CF-18 Hornets that have served as the backbone of Canada’s fighter force for many years. Their duties will include defending Canadian airspace and supporting the country’s NORAD and NATO commitments.
The government’s published schedule calls for initial operational capability in 2029-2030 and full operational capability in 2032-2034. It expects the fleet to remain in service beyond 2060.The post Canada receives first two F-35s as full purchase remains under review appeared first on AeroTime.
Canada has received its first two Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters, beginning the replacement of its aging CF-18 fleet…
The post Canada receives first two F-35s as full purchase remains under review appeared first on AeroTime.
