Canada’s F-35: Everything to Know About the RCAF’s New Fighter Jet

Canada’s purchase of the F-35 is the biggest fighter-jet story the country has seen in a generation. After more than a decade of political debate, false starts and cost battles, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is finally replacing its aging CF-18 Hornets with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, and the first jets are now in production. This guide explains what Canada is buying, how the country got here, what it costs, when the jets arrive, what they can do, and what it all means, in plain language.

The Short Version

• What: Canada committed to 88 F-35A Lightning II fighters from Lockheed Martin to replace the CF-18 Hornet.
• Cost: The jets were contracted at roughly $19 billion in early 2023; the broader project has since been estimated at about $27.7 billion, with some reports citing figures near $30 billion.
• When: First aircraft begin rolling off the line in 2026, with the full fleet planned through 2032.
• Where: Early jets train at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona; the operational fleet will be based at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, and 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec.
• The catch: As of 2026 the order is under government review. Canada has locked in the first 16 jets while it weighs whether to complete the full 88 or shift to a mixed fleet.

Note: Canada’s fighter program is actively evolving. The figures and timeline below reflect the situation as of 2026 and may change as the federal review concludes.

The Long Road: How Canada Got Here

To understand Canada’s F-35, you have to understand the saga behind it, one of the most drawn-out defence procurements in the country’s history.

It began in July 2010, when Stephen Harper’s Conservative government announced plans to buy 65 F-35s to replace the CF-18 fleet, at an estimated cost of around $9 billion, through a sole-source deal with Lockheed Martin. Rival manufacturers objected that they had never been allowed to compete, and a series of critical reports from the Parliamentary Budget Officer and Auditor General over ballooning lifecycle costs turned the purchase into a political lightning rod.

During the 2015 election, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals campaigned against the F-35 and promised an open competition. Once in office, the government launched the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) in 2017. To keep the CF-18s flying in the meantime, Canada bought a small fleet of used Australian F/A-18 Hornets as an interim bridge.

The open competition drew several contenders, including Boeing’s Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, the Airbus Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab’s Gripen. One by one the field narrowed: Dassault and Airbus withdrew in 2018 and 2019 citing interoperability and competitive concerns, and Boeing’s Super Hornet was eliminated in 2021. That left a final showdown between the F-35 and the Saab Gripen.

In March 2022, the Department of National Defence named the F-35A its preferred aircraft, and in January 2023 Canada finalized the contract for 88 jets at about $19 billion. After more than ten years, the decision the country first floated in 2010 had finally been signed, only to face a fresh round of questions in 2025.

What Canada Is Buying

Canada’s agreement, struck with the U.S. government, Lockheed Martin and engine-maker Pratt & Whitney, covers 88 F-35A Lightning II jets. The F-35A is the conventional-takeoff-and-landing version of the aircraft, the most widely used variant and the one suited to Canada’s runways and northern bases. It is already flown by close Canadian allies including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway and several other NATO partners, which means built-in interoperability with the forces Canada operates alongside.

Importantly, Canada’s jets are being delivered to the latest Block 4 standard. That means they arrive with the most current sensors, software and weapons integration available, rather than an older configuration that would require costly upgrades down the road.

How Much It Costs

Cost has always been at the centre of the F-35 conversation in Canada. The original 2010 plan was pegged at roughly $9 billion. The 2023 contract for the aircraft themselves came in at about $19 billion. But the total cost of standing up the capability, which includes weapons, simulators, infrastructure at Canadian bases, sustainment and the effects of inflation and currency exchange, has climbed considerably.

By 2024 the project was estimated at around $27.7 billion, roughly 50 percent above the original projection, and some more recent reports cite figures approaching $30 billion. Much of that increase reflects global production demand and the falling value of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar, since the jets are paid for in American currency, as much as anything specific to the program itself.

The Rollout Timeline

• 2026: Canada’s first F-35s come off the production line. The initial jets are based at the F-35A Pilot Training Center at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, Arizona, so RCAF pilots can train alongside allied air forces. At the same time, RCAF maintenance technicians begin learning the aircraft’s complex systems at the F-35 training centre at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
• 2028: The first F-35s are expected to arrive on Canadian soil, once new hangars, training units and sustainment facilities are ready at home.
• Through 2032: The remainder of the fleet is scheduled to be delivered, building toward a full, squadron-ready force.

The two main operating bases will be 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta and 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec, the same homes that have anchored Canada’s CF-18 fleet for decades. To bridge the gap until the F-35 is fully operational, Canada has invested in keeping its existing Hornets flying and combat-relevant through a Hornet Extension Project, so the country is never left without a fighter capability during the transition.

A Program Under Review

Here is where the story gets timely. In March 2025, the federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney placed the full 88-jet order under review amid escalating trade tensions with the United States. Rather than cancel outright, Ottawa confirmed it would proceed with the 16 aircraft it had already committed to and paid for, while studying the fate of the remaining 72.

Since then, the government has quietly continued making payments for long-lead components on additional jets, the parts that must be ordered years ahead of final assembly, to preserve Canada’s place in the production queue and avoid losing delivery slots to other buyers. At the same time, officials have publicly discussed the possibility of a mixed fighter fleet, pairing a reduced number of F-35s with a second aircraft such as the Saab Gripen.

The debate is as much about industry and sovereignty as it is about the jets. Saab has revived a “Made-in-Canada” pitch, offering to build Gripens domestically with promises of thousands of Canadian jobs and a faster delivery timeline. On the other side, the United States and defence officials warn that cutting the F-35 order could complicate NORAD interoperability, since North American air defence depends on Canada and the U.S. flying compatible aircraft. As of 2026, no final decision had been confirmed, so the exact size and shape of Canada’s future fighter force remains an open question, even as the first jets are built.

How the F-35 Replaces the CF-18 Hornet

Canada has flown the CF-18 Hornet since the 1980s, and despite multiple modernization programs, the airframes are simply old. The F-35 is a generational leap rather than a like-for-like swap.

Where the CF-18 is a fourth-generation fighter that relies heavily on the pilot to mentally combine information from separate radar, radio and threat-warning systems, the F-35 is built around stealth and automated sensor fusion that present a single, clear picture of the battlespace. In practical terms, that means an F-35 pilot can see more, be seen less, and share what they see instantly with allies. For a closer look at the jet it replaces, see our guide to the CF-18 Hornet.

What the F-35 Can Do, in Plain Language

You do not need to be an engineer to understand why air forces value the F-35. It is a single-seat, single-engine supersonic stealth fighter powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135, capable of speeds around Mach 1.6 and a combat radius of more than 1,200 kilometres. Its real advantages, though, are in stealth and information. Its core strengths are:

• Stealth. Its shape, special coatings and internal weapons bays make it far harder for enemy radar to detect, so it can operate in defended airspace that older jets cannot survive in. When stealth is not needed, it can also carry extra weapons on external pylons.
• Sensor fusion. A powerful AN/APG-81 radar, an Electro-Optical Targeting System and a Distributed Aperture System of six infrared cameras feed a single, easy-to-read display, fusing data that older jets keep on separate screens.
• The pilot’s helmet. The F-35’s helmet-mounted display projects flight and targeting information directly onto the visor and lets the pilot effectively “see through” the aircraft for 360-degree awareness.
• Networking. The F-35 acts like a flying information hub, securely sharing what it sees with other aircraft, ships and ground forces, making everyone around it more effective.
• Flexibility. A single jet can handle air-to-air combat, ground strikes, reconnaissance and electronic warfare, missions that once required several specialized aircraft.

For NORAD and Arctic sovereignty, that combination of stealth, range and data-sharing is exactly what Canada has said it needs for the decades ahead. If you are curious how it stacks up against another famous American stealth jet, read our F-22 vs F-35 comparison.

What It Means for Canada

The F-35 is more than a military purchase, it is an industrial and strategic decision.

On the economic side, Canadian companies have been part of the global F-35 supply chain since the program’s early days. More than 110 Canadian firms build components for the jet, and the federal government and Lockheed Martin have projected billions of dollars in industrial value for Canada over the life of the program. That domestic stake is one reason the procurement is debated so fiercely, since the choice of fighter shapes high-skilled aerospace jobs for decades.

Strategically, the F-35 ties directly into NORAD modernization, Arctic security and NATO commitments. Canada’s vast northern airspace and its joint air-defence partnership with the United States demand a fighter that can detect modern threats and operate seamlessly with allies. Supporters argue the F-35 is the only aircraft that fully meets those interoperability requirements, which is also why the current review is being watched so closely on both sides of the border.

What It Means for Canadian Airshows

For aviation fans, the arrival of the F-35 is genuinely exciting. As the jets enter Canadian service, expect the RCAF to eventually showcase the Lightning II at airshows across the country, just as the CF-18 Demonstration Team has thrilled crowds for years. While timelines depend on how quickly the fleet stands up at home, a Canadian F-35 demonstration would be a marquee draw at major events. In the meantime, world-class jet demonstrations remain a highlight of the Canadian airshow calendar, including the lineup at the Abbotsford International Airshow.

The Bottom Line

Canada’s F-35 represents a once-in-a-generation modernization of the RCAF, replacing the venerable CF-18 with a stealthy, networked fifth-generation fighter after more than a decade of political wrangling. The first jets are being built, pilots are heading to Arizona to train, and the first aircraft are expected in Canada by 2028. The open question is the final fleet size, with the government’s review still underway. Either way, the F-35 will help define Canadian air power, and Canadian skies, for decades to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many F-35s is Canada buying?

Canada originally committed to 88 F-35A jets to replace its CF-18 fleet. As of 2026 it has confirmed and paid for the first 16, while a government review decides whether to complete the full order or move to a mixed fleet of F-35s and another fighter such as the Saab Gripen.

How much do Canada’s F-35s cost?

The aircraft were contracted at about $19 billion in early 2023. The wider project, including infrastructure, weapons, training and sustainment, has since been estimated at roughly $27.7 billion, with some reports citing figures approaching $30 billion, largely due to inflation and exchange-rate changes.

When will Canada receive its F-35s?

Canada’s first F-35s begin production in 2026 and will initially be based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for pilot training. The first jets are expected to arrive in Canada in 2028, with the rest of the fleet delivered through 2032.

What aircraft is the F-35 replacing in Canada?

The F-35A is replacing the RCAF’s CF-18 Hornet, which has been in service since the 1980s. The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter, a significant leap over the fourth-generation CF-18.

Where will Canada’s F-35s be based?

Canada’s operational F-35 fleet will be based at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta and 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec, the same bases that have long hosted the CF-18 Hornet.

Why did Canada choose the F-35 over the Gripen?

After an open competition, the Department of National Defence selected the F-35A in 2022 over Saab’s Gripen, citing its stealth, advanced sensors and interoperability with the United States and NATO allies. The Gripen has since returned to the conversation as part of the 2025 fleet review.

Will Canada’s F-35s be built in Canada?

No. The F-35 is assembled in the United States, though more than 110 Canadian companies supply parts for the global fleet. The prospect of domestic production has been part of the appeal of the rival Gripen during the current review.

Is Canada still buying the F-35?

Yes, at least in part. Canada has committed to its first 16 F-35s and continues to make payments to hold its place in the production line. Since March 2025, however, the full 88-jet order has been under review, so the final fleet size has not been confirmed.