Canada’s federal government is continuing its review of the 88 jet Lockheed Martin F-35A purchase, with Defense Minister David McGuinty confirming that aircraft from other countries remain under active consideration.
F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet
F-35A Lightning II inducted at Misawa Air Base, marking the first fifth-generation fighter deployment in the Western Pacific.
USAF seeks $9.9B for 1.1M flying hours in FY2027, a four-year high, but readiness gaps persist amid pilot shortages.
Pentagon awards Lockheed Martin $177M for three F-35 flight test jets to accelerate delayed Block 4 upgrades and certifications.
Finnish Air Force pilot flies F-35A Lightning II for the first time from Ebbing Air Force Base, marking a key milestone in Finland’s fleet transition.
Norway scrambles F-35 fighters from Evenes to intercept Russian Il-38 patrol aircraft near its airspace in latest QRA mission.
National Guard generals urge Congress to fund 72 to 100 new F-35A and F-15EX fighter jets annually to modernize the aging Air Force fleet.
The United States remains cautious about discussions surrounding the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet for India, with Lockheed Martin clarifying that no direct commercial engagement is taking place.
Canada is evaluating participation in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) as an observer, signaling a potential shift from its contested F‑35 fighter acquisition.
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget requests only 38 F-35As for the U.S. Air Force out of 85 total F-35s, prompting analysts to warn the number is insufficient to reverse the service’s deepening fighter inventory shortfall amid competing modernization priorities.