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
