Canada Receives First F-35 Fighter Jets As Full Order Remains Under Review

Canada has taken delivery of its first two F-35 fighter jets from the United States, even as Prime Minister Mark Carney maintains a freeze on the broader procurement plan while a comprehensive defense review proceeds.

Royal Canadian Air Force Receives First Lockheed Martin Jets in Arizona

The Royal Canadian Air Force announced on social media Friday that it received the initial pair of stealth aircraft, sharing a photograph from Phoenix showing one of the planes bearing a Canadian maple-leaf roundel. The air force could not immediately say when pilot training on the new platform will begin. The first completed jet previously flew over Fort Worth, Texas, on September 23, 2026, captured in flights documented by aviation photographers Gherardo and Victoria Mae Fontana.

U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra recently praised the aircraft, describing it as “the best fighter in the world.” Despite the arrival of the first two jets, the final scope of Canada’s future fighter fleet remains undetermined.

Prime Minister Carney Pauses the Planned 88-Jet Order Amid Trade Tensions

Prime Minister Mark Carney halted plans to proceed with a previously scheduled acquisition of 88 stealth fighter jets. The ongoing review opens the possibility of a mixed fleet that could incorporate Gripen jets manufactured by Saab.

Carney launched the defense purchasing review in response to repeated trade and annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. That evaluation was originally slated to conclude a year ago.

Washington Maintains Control over F-35 Software Systems

Former foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy warned in a Saturday blog post that Washington maintains ultimate control over the software systems running the F-35 jets.

Those warnings echo concerns raised over the past year, during which Trump suggested that Washington might supply allies with jets featuring limited operational capabilities to preserve American military supremacy.