An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet practises for an air show appearance in Ottawa, Friday, September 6, 2019. The parliamentary budget officer has pegged the lifetime cost of Canada's new fleet of F-35 fighter jets at $73.9 billion over 45 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – The parliamentary budget officer has pegged the lifetime cost of Canada’s new fleet of F-35 fighter jets at $73.9 billion over 45 years.
Yves Giroux says the cost of the acquisition phase is estimated to be $19.8 billion.
In January, the federal government announced a deal with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government to buy 88 jets at a cost of about US$85 million each.
Defence minister Anita Anand said at the time that the acquisition cost was estimated at $19 billion, and the lifetime cost of the deal would be $70 billion.
The new aircraft are to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s aging CF-18s, with the first four planes expected to be delivered in 2026.
Giroux says his analysis shows the costs are broadly in line with government estimates, but he also warns that a one-year delay in the program would cost about $400 million.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2023.
