Canada Remains Committed to F-35 purchase, Exploring Fleet Diversity, Top procurement Official Says
OTTAWA - Canada is not seeking to withdraw from its agreement to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States, despite a recent review of the program, according to the head of defense procurement. Assistant Deputy Minister of National Defence,Troy fuhr,affirmed Canada’s commitment while speaking to a parliamentary committee,emphasizing the establishment of a dedicated agency to manage the acquisition.
Fuhr highlighted the unique structure of the new agency, stating it possesses “its own authority. It’s got contracting authority. It’s got its own resources and it’s got its own people.” He expressed confidence in its success, saying, “It’s structured in a way to succeed, and we’re going to make it work.”
The comments come after Defence Minister Bill Blair announced a review of the F-35 program in March, which also included consideration of aircraft from European suppliers, such as the Swedish-built Saab gripen, to comprise the remainder of Canada’s fighter jet fleet.
Fuhr indicated that a mixed fleet is a viable option, allowing Canada to address a wider range of threats. “What happens if you have to persist in that space for months and months and years? The tool that you use, is it the right tool to do that job?” he asked, adding that a diverse range of capabilities is necessary to handle potential future scenarios.
A recent Auditor General’s report revealed the cost of the F-35 program has increased by almost 50 per cent, rising from an estimated $19 billion to $27.7 billion – a figure that does not include the cost of weapons or infrastructure. The report also cited a shortage of trained pilots.
Fuhr also addressed the government’s efforts to meet a NATO pledge to spend two per cent of GDP on defence by 2025-26, equating to approximately $63 billion. He believes Canada can accelerate military spending,potentially utilizing commercial contracting processes,which he was told are faster.
“There’s a whole bunch of different things we can do from the process and procedure side,” Fuhr said. “I’ll be very,very focused on making sure we use the right process for the right procurement to make sure it goes faster.”
