Canada's Top Soldier Advocates for Continued F-35 Purchases Amid Defence Ties with the EU and US

Strategic Insights -

Canada's top military official, Gen. Jennie Carignan, has stated that the country should purchase at least some additional F-35 fighter jets from the United States as part of its defence ties with both the US and the European Union. This decision comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney pursues deeper defence cooperation with the EU, while maintaining the long-standing military relationship with the US. The F-35 jet has various advantages, including its capacity to cover Canada's vast territory and the ability to regularly upgrade to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gen. Jennie Carignan, Canada's chief of defence staff, advocates for purchasing at least some additional F-35 fighter jets from the US, citing their numerous advantages.
  • The projected cost to buy all 88 F-35 jets has ballooned from $19 billion to $33.2 billion due to delays, inflation, and other factors, according to the independent auditor general's report.
  • Carignan believes that buying more than 16 F-35s, but possibly not all 88, is the best choice, as it would allow the military to maintain benefits like technology upgrades and extensive territory coverage.
  • The Liberal government had put the rest of the purchase under review in March, amid tensions with the US over President Donald Trump's tariffs and talk of making Canada the 51st American state.
  • Carignan emphasized the importance of bolstering Canada's military industry and increasing ties with European and other countries, reducing reliance on the US.
  • Canada and the US have a shared technology agreement on F-35 jets, and missile defence is another area of potential alignment, with the two countries discussing the US president's "Golden Dome" system.
  • Deciding how to connect the Canadian and American missile defence systems is "the next step," and Carignan noted the importance of joint deterrence against evolving missile technologies.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged $9 billion in defence spending to meet the NATO target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence by the current fiscal year.

Statistics:

  • The projected cost to buy all 88 F-35 jets has increased from $19 billion to $33.2 billion due to delays, inflation, and other factors.
  • The F-35 jet is expected to undergo regular upgrades to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology.
  • The Canadian military is planning major acquisitions, including new submarines, and needs to improve its system for making purchases to overcome personnel and equipment shortages.
  • Canada's NATO ally, Belgium, has already acquired 34 F-35s as part of its plan to purchase 54, according to a 2020 report by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Sources:

  • "Canada's top soldier says the military should keep buying at least some additional F-35 fighter jets from the United States" by Alex Ballingall, The Toronto Star
  • Report by the independent auditor general on June 10
  • NATO Parliamentary Assembly report, 2020