Canada’s first two CF-35A fighters reached Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on Oct. 22, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) said, as Ottawa reviews its planned 88-aircraft fleet.
The Department of National Defence (DND) schedule assigns eight aircraft to Luke during 2026–27 for Canadian pilot training. It projects the first aircraft will arrive in Canada in late 2028, with initial operational capability in 2029 and full capability in 2033.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the review on March 14, 2025, to assess whether the F-35 remained the best choice for Canada. In May 2026, DND said it was weighing operational requirements, commitments to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), industrial benefits, strategic partnerships and possible alternatives. An earlier DND question-period note had anticipated the review would conclude in summer 2025, but the department still described it as ongoing in May 2026. DND said a decision would come “in due course.”
During an April 2026 Senate hearing, Defence Minister David McGuinty said officials were discussing whether Canada should operate more than one type of fighter. No final fleet arrangement has been announced.
The Auditor General of Canada reported that the project estimate rose 46%, from C$19 billion in 2022 to C$27.7 billion in 2024. The estimate excluded at least C$5.5 billion for additional requirements, including infrastructure and weapons needed for full operational capability. The audit cited foreign-exchange fluctuations and rising facilities costs among the factors behind the increase.
DND says more than 110 Canadian companies have received over US$3.6 billion, or about C$5.2 billion, in contracts for F-35 production and supply-chain work. Those contracts support the wider program, not only Canada’s aircraft.
The F-35s are intended to replace Canada’s CF-18 fleet, which is due to retire by 2032. DND says the replacement fleet must be operational by 2032 to avoid a capability gap; its schedule targets initial operational capability in 2029 and full operational capability in 2033.
