Canada is considering a major change to its fighter replacement program that could see the Royal Canadian Air Force operate a mixed fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A and Saab Gripen fighters, according to a report by La Presse.
The newspaper reported that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is weighing the purchase of around 30 F-35s and approximately 60 Gripens, reducing a previous plan to acquire 88 F-35s.
The report follows Ottawa’s decision this week to select the Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft over rival proposals from Boeing and L3Harris. The Canadian government plans to acquire six GlobalEye aircraft in a program valued at more than C$5 billion.
According to La Presse, the GlobalEye decision is being viewed within government as part of a wider effort to reduce Canada’s dependence on US defence suppliers while increasing domestic industrial participation.
The F-35 remains Canada’s officially selected fighter. Ottawa signed an agreement in 2023 covering 88 aircraft, but only the first 16 jets are currently under contract and scheduled for delivery beginning next year. No contract has been signed for the remaining 72 aircraft.
Soon after taking office in 2025, Carney directed Defence Minister David McGuinty to review the F-35 acquisition and determine whether it represented the best value for Canada. The review was expected to take three months but has yet to produce a public recommendation.
Several members of the Canadian government have publicly questioned the industrial benefits associated with the F-35 program. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly recently argued that Lockheed Martin should commit to greater investment in Canada if it hopes to retain the full contract.
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Saab has long promoted the Gripen as an alternative, offering local production and technology transfer. The company has also suggested that Canadian-built aircraft could support future requirements beyond the Royal Canadian Air Force, including potential deliveries linked to Ukraine’s fighter fleet plans.
The report said a final decision may not be announced immediately. However, sources cited by La Presse indicated that support for a mixed F-35 and Gripen fleet has grown within government circles.
