Canada's Fighter Jet Plan Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger
Canada's long-running quest to replace its aging CF-18 fleet may be heading toward a historic — and surprisingly ambitious — conclusion. According to multiple sources speaking to CBC News, the federal government is exploring a mixed fleet approach that would see Canada acquire both American F-35 stealth fighters and Swedish-made Saab Gripens, pushing the total number of new jets well past the 100-aircraft mark.
The original procurement plan called for 88 F-35s built by Lockheed Martin. But the new scenario taking shape in Ottawa would layer on top of that a separate purchase of 72 Gripens — a lighter, highly versatile aircraft manufactured by Sweden's Saab. If both deals move forward, Canada could be operating a combined air force fleet of 72 to 88 F-35s alongside dozens of Gripens.
Why Two Different Jets?
The logic behind a mixed fleet isn't as unusual as it might sound. Different aircraft serve different roles: F-35s are fifth-generation stealth jets designed for high-threat environments, while Gripens are nimble, cost-effective fighters well-suited for patrol, training, and interoperability missions. Several allied nations operate mixed fleets for exactly this kind of operational flexibility.
But there's another major driver here: industrial benefits. Sources say a Gripen purchase of this scale would represent the single largest industrial project in Canadian history, generating an estimated 9,000 jobs across the country. That's a significant selling point for any government navigating a tight economic environment and regional political pressures.
A Procurement Saga That's Dragged On for Years
Canada's fighter jet replacement program has been one of the most complicated — and contentious — defence procurement files in recent memory. The original push to buy F-35s under the Harper government collapsed amid controversy over sole-sourcing and cost projections. Subsequent governments opened a competitive process that dragged on for years before the Trudeau government finally selected the F-35 as its preferred aircraft in 2022, with formal contract negotiations continuing since.
Now, with geopolitical pressures mounting — including renewed questions about Canada's reliance on U.S. defence industry amid strained trade relations — Swedish Gripens have re-entered the conversation as a way to diversify both Canada's supplier relationships and its industrial base.
What Comes Next
No final decisions have been announced, and sources caution that the mixed-fleet scenario is still being evaluated rather than confirmed. The federal government has not publicly commented on the specifics, and any shift in the procurement strategy would represent a significant policy change.
Still, the scale of what's being discussed is striking. A combined fleet exceeding 100 aircraft, a potential 9,000-job industrial windfall, and a procurement price tag that would likely run into the tens of billions — this is shaping up to be one of the defining defence decisions of a generation.
For Canadians who've watched this file crawl forward for the better part of two decades, the prospect of a resolution — even a complex one — might finally be within reach.
Source: CBC News