Lockheed Martin Brings F-35 Maintenance Plans to Quebec
Canada's long-awaited transition to the F-35 fighter jet is moving into a new phase, with senior Lockheed Martin executives travelling to Quebec on Tuesday to formally confirm plans to service the aircraft at L3Harris facilities in Mirabel.
The Mirabel facility is no stranger to military aviation — it currently handles maintenance for Canada's CF-18 Hornet fleet, which the F-35 is set to replace. The decision to use the same site for the next-generation stealth fighter would represent both continuity and a significant investment in Quebec's aerospace industry.
What This Means for Canada's Aerospace Sector
Quebec has long been a cornerstone of Canada's aerospace economy, with the greater Montreal region home to hundreds of aviation and defence companies. Keeping F-35 maintenance work in Canada — rather than sending aircraft to U.S. facilities — was a key priority for the federal government during contract negotiations.
Lockheed Martin securing the Mirabel site for sustainment work means Canadian aerospace workers would be trained and certified on one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, a distinction that carries long-term economic and strategic value.
The L3Harris facility in Mirabel already employs thousands of skilled tradespeople and engineers. Adding F-35 maintenance to its portfolio would likely require new training programs, tooling investments, and potentially additional hiring.
Canada's F-35 Purchase: A Long Time Coming
Canada's path to the F-35 has been anything but smooth. The procurement process stretched over more than a decade, plagued by political controversy, cost debates, and shifting timelines. The Trudeau government eventually signed a contract with Lockheed Martin in 2023 for 88 F-35A aircraft, in a deal valued at roughly $19 billion.
Deliveries are expected to begin in the late 2020s, with the full fleet not arriving until the mid-2030s. In the meantime, the aging CF-18s — some of which have been in service since the 1980s — continue to fly, with interim upgrades keeping them operational.
The confirmation of a domestic maintenance hub is seen as an important step in ensuring Canada can sustain and operate the jets independently, without relying entirely on U.S. logistics chains.
Ottawa's Role in the Bigger Picture
While the maintenance facility itself is in Quebec, the deal has significant implications for Ottawa. The Department of National Defence, headquartered in the capital, has been central to managing the procurement file, and Canadian Forces Base Trenton and Cold Lake are among the bases expected to eventually host the new jets.
Defence analysts have noted that domestic sustainment capacity also strengthens Canada's hand in NORAD modernization talks with the United States — a priority for the federal government as it works to upgrade North American air defence infrastructure.
What Comes Next
The Lockheed Martin visit to Quebec is expected to include meetings with provincial officials and L3Harris leadership. While full details of the maintenance agreement have not yet been made public, Tuesday's announcement is being framed as a milestone in Canada's transition to fifth-generation air power.
For workers in Mirabel and the broader Quebec aerospace community, it's a signal that Canada's most significant military aviation investment in decades will create jobs and opportunity at home.
Source: CBC Politics. Original article
