Canadian military backs F-35 while Spain and India reject the U.S. fighter jet
Swiss politicians question F-35 purchase as cost increases and Trump hits country with major tariffs
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The Canadian military is solidly backing the controversial F-35 fighter jet while Spain and India are rejecting the aircraft after facing economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Swiss politicians also called Thursday for cancelling that country’s F-35 purchase after Trump hit their country with 39 per cent tariffs.
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But Reuters news service reported Thursday that the Canadian military is recommending that Canada stick with its proposed purchase of 88 U.S.-built F-35s. That recommendation didn’t come as a surprise for observers since the Canadian Forces originally lobbied for and selected the American stealth fighter.
The Canadian Forces did not provide comment on the status of the F-35 review originally ordered by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Canadian Forces leaders are very close to their U.S. counterparts and have been pushing for more integration and co-operation between the two militaries even as Trump has threatened the Canadian economy.
The final decision on whether Canada proceeds with the F-35 purchase will be made by Carney who ordered the review of Canada’s purchase in mid-March in the wake of threats against Canadian sovereignty by Trump. The U.S. has become increasingly hostile to Canada, with the American president continuing with his economic efforts to punish Canada and push for this country to become the 51st state.
At this point, Canada has only financially committed to purchasing the first 16 jets from the U.S. government. The entire order was for 88 F-35s, which are manufactured by the American defence giant Lockheed Martin.
Defence Minister David McGuinty has said the review will be completed by the end of the summer and would be made public.
Spain has recently rejected the F-35 to focus on the European-built Eurofighter as well as a new future combat system consisting of drones as well as piloted new generation aircraft made in Europe. Trump has promised to punish Spain economically because it did not increase its military spending enough.
India has rejected the F-35 as well as the purchase of other U.S.-built military goods as Trump hammers that country with major tariffs.
In Switzerland there is a movement to cancel the F-35 purchase after the costs for that jet increased and Trump imposed a 39 per cent tariff on Swiss goods, Bloomberg reported Thursday. “I don’t know how our people will accept the purchase of F-35 fighter jets at prices higher than originally assumed – especially after the American tariff shock,” said Hans- Peter Portmann, a Liberal lawmaker and fellow party member of Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter.
In June, Canada’s Auditor General Karen Hogan issued a report that Canada’s F-35 purchase had already jumped in cost for $19 billion to $27.7 billion. Another $5.5 billion will be needed to achieve full operation capability for the planes, Hogan added.
Former defence procurement chief Alan Williams and various defence analysts have warned that the F-35 represents a strategic vulnerability for Canada since the U.S. has total control over software upgrades and spare parts on the aircraft.
The Ottawa Citizen reported May 5 that the U.S. will own all parts for Canada’s F-35s even when they are located at Canadian bases.
In addition, retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, the air force general who originally recommended Canada buy the F-35 fighter jet, recently said the purchase should no longer go forward as planned because the U.S. has become so untrustworthy.
European defence firms say they could offer Canada fighter jets to replace the F-35. At least one has proposed previously to build the planes in Canada.
During the federal election campaign, Carney called for a shift away from Canada’s economic and military reliance on the U.S. and outlined his plan to strengthen trade and defence links with other nations.
Some retired military officers as well as defence analysts from DND-funded think tanks have argued that Canada should proceed with its entire F-35 purchase because it needs to remain a strong ally of the U.S. Supporters of Canada’s F-35 purchase also point to the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts that Canadian companies have earned by supplying parts for the U.S. aircraft.
But on Feb. 28, the National Post reported that Trump had told Lockheed Martin he wanted those contracts back in the U.S. when the Canadian deals came up for renewal.
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
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