16 Planes with Kit Purchased - The First Block of Many?

Rumors abound that the Canadian Department of National Defence has authorized $7 billion for F-35 fighters.

"Anonymous sources", as per usual, said a funding request to the Treasury Board was accepted, which should provide enough for 16 F-35s with their attendant support and equipment. The negotiations over the aircraft have been an ongoing source of contention, with Canada planning to procure 88 new fighters to replace its aging CF-18 hornet derivatives sometime between 2026 and 2032. 

A surprise announcement in 2010 promised a purchase of 65 F-35s without a competition, but controversy over costs and the Lightning's seemingly never ending development process spurred competition between fighter manufacturers the world over. From then on, the F-35 bounced between top contender and begrudging finalist throughout the years, its costly price tag always getting in the way of governmental enthusiasm. The competition hit high gear in July 2019, with the bidding process begun. For a time, some bets were on the capable F/A-18 Super Hornet to take up the mantle of its Hornet-based predecessor, at that point more than 40 years old. 

Apparently, time has run out for Canada's decision. As rumor has it, the Treasury Board approved the F-35 purchase to ensure its delivery slots remain, evidently planning to eat the 88-plane elephant one bite at a time. The purchase covers the initial 16 jets with spares, weapons, and some startup costs to build new facilities to manufacture the aircraft. The purchase will allow the Canadian Air Force to begin planning for the new addition in earnest, from training and maintaining to developing doctrine with a more firm idea of their next fighter's capabilities.

The deal surprised one of the frontrunners in the fighter-replacement race, Saab. Their Gripen remained one of the top contenders for the next Canadian fighter, offering low operating costs and affordable acquisition to boot. 

"Given that Saab remains eligible for selection in the formal procurement process, we are surprised by today's media report," Saab Canada spokeswoman Sierra Fullerton said in a statement. "Saab is committed to the offer we made to the government of Canada, which was significantly less than the $19 billion budgeted for the full 88 aircraft requested."

FMI: www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence.html