Ottawa approves purchase of 16 F-35 jets worth $7B: sources – National | 24CA News
The Department of National Defence not too long ago obtained quiet approval to spend $7 billion on 16 F-35 fighter jets and associated gear.
Two defence sources, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate issues not but made public, mentioned a funding request despatched to the Treasury Board received the inexperienced gentle earlier this month.
The Canadian Press additionally considered a doc summarizing this request to Treasury Board, which is the division that controls the federal purse strings, and independently verified its accuracy.
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The funding approval got here after months of negotiations with the U.S. authorities and Lockheed Martin after the F-35 beat out Sweden’s Saab Gripen in a contest earlier this yr.
While the federal authorities has mentioned it plans to purchase 88 new fighter jets to switch its growing older CF-18s between 2026 and 2032, the sources mentioned Canada will probably be buying F-35s in blocks over the subsequent few years.
Canada wanted to make an preliminary order by the tip of the calendar yr to make sure its deliberate supply schedule stays on monitor, they added.
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The Treasury Board approval covers an preliminary set of 16 F-35s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, in addition to spare components, weapons and numerous startup prices related to acquiring new jets, reminiscent of constructing new amenities.
The Liberal authorities was anticipated to make an announcement two weeks in the past, in accordance with sources, however now the news just isn’t anticipated to be formally introduced earlier than January.
Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek’s workplace declined to remark particularly on the Treasury Board approval on Tuesday, referring as an alternative to the general choice to purchase 88 fighter jets.
“As outlined in Canada’s defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada will be acquiring 88 advanced fighter aircraft,” spokesman Olivier Pilon wrote in an e-mail.
“We look forward to providing an update on this important project shortly.”
Lockheed Martin declined to remark. So did the U.S. Defense Department’s F-35 workplace, which is accountable for the stealth fighter program. They as an alternative referred inquiries to the Canadian authorities.
Canada’s decade-long seek for a brand new fighter jet to switch its growing older CF-18s got here full circle in March when the Liberal authorities introduced negotiations with U.S. defence large Lockheed Martin to buy the F-35.
Officials on the time anticipated talks would take about seven months and end in a last contract by the tip of the yr.
Yet the Liberal authorities additionally emphasised on the time that the negotiations didn’t imply a deal for the F-35 was executed, with the federal government retaining the choice to speak with Saab about its Gripen fighter ought to discussions with Lockheed Martin stall.
The authorities had initially anticipated spending $19 billion on Canada’s subsequent fighter jet fleet, nevertheless it was not evident on the time what would _ and wouldn’t _ be included. Defence Minister Anita Anand mentioned in March that the associated fee can be “further refined.”
The buy of F-35s in tranches just isn’t distinctive, says U.S.-based analyst Richard Aboulafia, one of many world’s main F-35 consultants.
For instance, whereas Britain beforehand dedicated to purchasing a complete of 138 F-35s, its preliminary order was for under 48. Australia has taken an analogous strategy by initially ordering solely 14 of the stealth fighters earlier than later confirming one other 58.
The causes for such a phased strategy fluctuate based mostly on every nation’s budgetary course of and their respective navy’s means to simply accept and assist the transition to a brand new plane. It can also be based mostly on Lockheed Martin’s manufacturing schedule and different orders.
Stephen Harper’s Conservative authorities first dedicated to purchasing 65 F-35s and not using a competitors in 2010, earlier than considerations in regards to the stealth fighter’s price and capabilities compelled it again to the drafting board.
The Liberals promised in 2015 to not purchase the F-35, however to as an alternative launch an open competitors to switch the CF-18s. They later deliberate to purchase 18 Super Hornets and not using a competitors as an “interim” measure till a full competitors could possibly be launched.
Some on the time questioned that plan, suggesting the Liberals have been looking for a technique to lock Canada into the Super Hornet with out opening itself as much as a authorized problem from Lockheed Martin or every other jet makers.
But the federal government cancelled the plan after Boeing launched a commerce dispute with Montreal aerospace agency Bombardier. Ottawa initiated the present bidding course of in July 2019, at which level the Super Hornet and F-35 have been allowed to compete.
In the meantime, the federal government has been compelled to speculate a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of further {dollars} into the CF-18 fleet to maintain it flying till a alternative could be delivered. By 2032, the CF-18s may have been round for 50 years.
The Canadian Press reported final week that Canada won’t ship fighter jets to patrol NATO airspace for Russian incursions subsequent yr, the primary time that Canadian CF-18s will probably be absent from the skies over Europe since 2017.
The choice was partly blamed on the necessity to improve the CF-18s to make sure they’ll proceed to struggle and defend themselves from adversaries till they are often changed by F-35s.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
