U.S. Greenlights $2.68B Air-Strike Weapons Package Aimed at Reinforcing Canada’s Deterrence
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The United States has approved a possible 2.68 billion dollar Foreign Military Sale of advanced air strike weapons and support equipment to Canada. The package is poised to strengthen Canadian air combat readiness at a time of rising demands in NATO and NORAD.
On December 4, 2025, the United States signaled a further deepening of North American defense integration by clearing a possible 2.68 billion dollar Foreign Military Sale of air strike weapons and support to Canada, as reported by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Pentagon and covered by Reuters. This FMS notification comes as Ottawa modernizes its air combat capabilities and prepares to introduce new fighter aircraft while facing growing demands in NATO and NORAD. At a time of heightened concern over long-range strike and missile threats, a large package of precision munitions is intended to strengthen Canada’s ability to conduct calibrated air operations at home and alongside allies. The notification to Congress is therefore both a key acquisition step and a political signal about the future shape of Canadian and North American airpower.
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A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 releases a GBU-12 over Eglin Air Force Base during a US-run Weapons System Evaluation Program, which tests live precision-guided munitions in realistic conditions. This type of training underpins Canada’s move to expand its precision strike capabilities through the newly approved 2.68 billion dollar US air strike weapons package (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)
At the core of the proposed package is a wide inventory of precision-guided and general-purpose munitions intended to equip Canada’s combat aircraft with a full spectrum of strike options. Ottawa has requested up to 3,108 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB-I) glide bombs and up to 2,004 GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb Increment II (SDB-II), complemented by 100 GBU-53 SDB-II guided test vehicles. The order also covers up to 5,352 KMU-572, 396 KMU-556 and 140 KMU-557 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, allowing conventional free-fall bombs to be converted into satellite-guided weapons. In addition, Canada seeks up to 3,414 BLU-111 500-lb general-purpose bombs, 220 BLU-117 2,000-lb bombs, 146 I-2000 penetrator warheads for hardened targets, 100 MK-82 inert bombs, 750 inert GBU-39 practice bombs with fuzes, and 100 GBU-39 guided test vehicles. The non-MDE segment of the case is also substantial, including fuze systems such as the FMU-139 and FMU-167 Hard Target Void Sensing Fuzes, DSU-38 laser target detectors, practice munitions, tools, training aids, classified and unclassified software, technical documentation, spare parts, and logistics and engineering support. The 2.68 billion dollar figure represents the maximum estimated value if all options are exercised, with the final value expected to be lower depending on detailed requirements, budget authority and the eventual signed contracts.
Operationally, the package is designed to give the Royal Canadian Air Force a flexible, scalable strike portfolio aligned with contemporary NATO concepts of operations. Small Diameter Bombs enable aircraft to carry more precision munitions per sortie and engage targets with reduced collateral effects, while JDAM guidance kits allow existing bomb bodies to be turned into all-weather precision weapons guided by GPS and inertial navigation. Penetrator warheads and 2,000-lb general-purpose bombs provide options against hardened or deeply buried infrastructure, whereas 500-lb general-purpose bombs maintain a more traditional load-out for a wide range of tactical targets. Although the DSCA notice does not specify platforms, the munitions are consistent with the capabilities of Canada’s current and planned fighter fleet, including the F-35A aircraft Ottawa is in the process of acquiring under the Future Fighter Capability Project. Washington underlines that Canada “will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment” and that the proposed sale will not require additional US government or contractor personnel in country, pointing to a mature support and training framework between the two allies.
Strategically, the United States presents the proposed sale as a contribution to its broader foreign policy and national security objectives. The DSCA emphasizes that Canada is a key NATO ally, an important actor for political stability and economic development, and a regular contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. For Ottawa, a large inventory of precision strike weapons is aligned with ongoing investments in NORAD modernization and air domain awareness, where Canada has committed tens of billions of dollars to upgrade sensors, command-and-control systems and air weapons capabilities to respond to evolving threats, including cruise missiles and long-range conventional strike systems. The ability to equip new fighters with a diverse set of munitions strengthens Canada’s credibility as a contributor to deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank, in expeditionary operations and in the increasingly contested Arctic. At the same time, DSCA explicitly states that the transaction “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” signaling that it is viewed in Washington as a reinforcement of existing capabilities rather than a transformative escalation.
The package also sits at the intersection of industrial and political dynamics in US–Canada defense relations. Boeing and RTX Corporation, both headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, are identified as the principal contractors, confirming that US industry will remain a primary supplier of Canadian air-launched weapons even as Ottawa explores closer industrial links with European partners and considers diversification of its defense supply chain. DSCA indicates that no offset arrangements are currently known and that any industrial compensations will be the subject of separate negotiations between the companies and the Canadian government. The proposed sale follows a period of scrutiny over the costs and dependence associated with Canada’s F-35 program, with an Auditor General report highlighting substantial cost growth and Prime Minister Mark Carney ordering, then ultimately sustaining, a review that still pointed to continued reliance on US-made aircraft for interoperability and lifecycle support. Against this backdrop, the weapons package underscores that, despite ongoing debates over diversification and European partnerships, the core of Canada’s air combat capability remains deeply integrated with US platforms, munitions and support ecosystems.
From Washington’s perspective, the notification stresses that the delivery of these weapons and associated services will not negatively affect US defense readiness and will not require a permanent increase of US personnel in Canada. For Ottawa, the case offers a way to synchronize munitions stocks with the planned introduction of new fighters, helping to ensure that aircraft entering service over the coming decade are immediately paired with modern, network-enabled air-ground weapons. It also reinforces Canada’s ability to make tangible contributions to North American aerospace defense and NATO operations, at a moment when allies expect greater burden sharing and when precision long-range strike has become central to deterrence and warfighting concepts.
The notification of this proposed sale signals that, if Congress gives its approval and negotiations lead to a final contract, Canada is preparing not only to renew its fighter fleet but to ensure those aircraft are equipped for sustained, high-intensity operations alongside US and NATO forces. Thousands of precision munitions, extensive support infrastructure and assured US industrial backing together point to a long-term choice: to anchor Canadian airpower in interoperable US systems at the very moment when NORAD modernization, F-35 introduction and great-power competition converge. Beyond the technical detail of GBU-39s, SDB-II and JDAM kits, the underlying message is that Canada intends to remain a front-line contributor to collective air and missile defense, and Washington is prepared to underwrite that role with some of its most in-demand strike weapons.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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The United States has approved a possible 2.68 billion dollar Foreign Military Sale of advanced air strike weapons and support equipment to Canada. The package is poised to strengthen Canadian air combat readiness at a time of rising demands in NATO and NORAD.
On December 4, 2025, the United States signaled a further deepening of North American defense integration by clearing a possible 2.68 billion dollar Foreign Military Sale of air strike weapons and support to Canada, as reported by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Pentagon and covered by Reuters. This FMS notification comes as Ottawa modernizes its air combat capabilities and prepares to introduce new fighter aircraft while facing growing demands in NATO and NORAD. At a time of heightened concern over long-range strike and missile threats, a large package of precision munitions is intended to strengthen Canada’s ability to conduct calibrated air operations at home and alongside allies. The notification to Congress is therefore both a key acquisition step and a political signal about the future shape of Canadian and North American airpower.
A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 releases a GBU-12 over Eglin Air Force Base during a US-run Weapons System Evaluation Program, which tests live precision-guided munitions in realistic conditions. This type of training underpins Canada’s move to expand its precision strike capabilities through the newly approved 2.68 billion dollar US air strike weapons package (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force)
At the core of the proposed package is a wide inventory of precision-guided and general-purpose munitions intended to equip Canada’s combat aircraft with a full spectrum of strike options. Ottawa has requested up to 3,108 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB-I) glide bombs and up to 2,004 GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb Increment II (SDB-II), complemented by 100 GBU-53 SDB-II guided test vehicles. The order also covers up to 5,352 KMU-572, 396 KMU-556 and 140 KMU-557 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, allowing conventional free-fall bombs to be converted into satellite-guided weapons. In addition, Canada seeks up to 3,414 BLU-111 500-lb general-purpose bombs, 220 BLU-117 2,000-lb bombs, 146 I-2000 penetrator warheads for hardened targets, 100 MK-82 inert bombs, 750 inert GBU-39 practice bombs with fuzes, and 100 GBU-39 guided test vehicles. The non-MDE segment of the case is also substantial, including fuze systems such as the FMU-139 and FMU-167 Hard Target Void Sensing Fuzes, DSU-38 laser target detectors, practice munitions, tools, training aids, classified and unclassified software, technical documentation, spare parts, and logistics and engineering support. The 2.68 billion dollar figure represents the maximum estimated value if all options are exercised, with the final value expected to be lower depending on detailed requirements, budget authority and the eventual signed contracts.
Operationally, the package is designed to give the Royal Canadian Air Force a flexible, scalable strike portfolio aligned with contemporary NATO concepts of operations. Small Diameter Bombs enable aircraft to carry more precision munitions per sortie and engage targets with reduced collateral effects, while JDAM guidance kits allow existing bomb bodies to be turned into all-weather precision weapons guided by GPS and inertial navigation. Penetrator warheads and 2,000-lb general-purpose bombs provide options against hardened or deeply buried infrastructure, whereas 500-lb general-purpose bombs maintain a more traditional load-out for a wide range of tactical targets. Although the DSCA notice does not specify platforms, the munitions are consistent with the capabilities of Canada’s current and planned fighter fleet, including the F-35A aircraft Ottawa is in the process of acquiring under the Future Fighter Capability Project. Washington underlines that Canada “will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment” and that the proposed sale will not require additional US government or contractor personnel in country, pointing to a mature support and training framework between the two allies.
Strategically, the United States presents the proposed sale as a contribution to its broader foreign policy and national security objectives. The DSCA emphasizes that Canada is a key NATO ally, an important actor for political stability and economic development, and a regular contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. For Ottawa, a large inventory of precision strike weapons is aligned with ongoing investments in NORAD modernization and air domain awareness, where Canada has committed tens of billions of dollars to upgrade sensors, command-and-control systems and air weapons capabilities to respond to evolving threats, including cruise missiles and long-range conventional strike systems. The ability to equip new fighters with a diverse set of munitions strengthens Canada’s credibility as a contributor to deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank, in expeditionary operations and in the increasingly contested Arctic. At the same time, DSCA explicitly states that the transaction “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” signaling that it is viewed in Washington as a reinforcement of existing capabilities rather than a transformative escalation.
The package also sits at the intersection of industrial and political dynamics in US–Canada defense relations. Boeing and RTX Corporation, both headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, are identified as the principal contractors, confirming that US industry will remain a primary supplier of Canadian air-launched weapons even as Ottawa explores closer industrial links with European partners and considers diversification of its defense supply chain. DSCA indicates that no offset arrangements are currently known and that any industrial compensations will be the subject of separate negotiations between the companies and the Canadian government. The proposed sale follows a period of scrutiny over the costs and dependence associated with Canada’s F-35 program, with an Auditor General report highlighting substantial cost growth and Prime Minister Mark Carney ordering, then ultimately sustaining, a review that still pointed to continued reliance on US-made aircraft for interoperability and lifecycle support. Against this backdrop, the weapons package underscores that, despite ongoing debates over diversification and European partnerships, the core of Canada’s air combat capability remains deeply integrated with US platforms, munitions and support ecosystems.
From Washington’s perspective, the notification stresses that the delivery of these weapons and associated services will not negatively affect US defense readiness and will not require a permanent increase of US personnel in Canada. For Ottawa, the case offers a way to synchronize munitions stocks with the planned introduction of new fighters, helping to ensure that aircraft entering service over the coming decade are immediately paired with modern, network-enabled air-ground weapons. It also reinforces Canada’s ability to make tangible contributions to North American aerospace defense and NATO operations, at a moment when allies expect greater burden sharing and when precision long-range strike has become central to deterrence and warfighting concepts.
The notification of this proposed sale signals that, if Congress gives its approval and negotiations lead to a final contract, Canada is preparing not only to renew its fighter fleet but to ensure those aircraft are equipped for sustained, high-intensity operations alongside US and NATO forces. Thousands of precision munitions, extensive support infrastructure and assured US industrial backing together point to a long-term choice: to anchor Canadian airpower in interoperable US systems at the very moment when NORAD modernization, F-35 introduction and great-power competition converge. Beyond the technical detail of GBU-39s, SDB-II and JDAM kits, the underlying message is that Canada intends to remain a front-line contributor to collective air and missile defense, and Washington is prepared to underwrite that role with some of its most in-demand strike weapons.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
