Canada’s Fighter Shuffle: Cutting F-35s While Embracing Gripen for Sovereignty and Jobs

Ottawa is weighing a mixed fighter fleet that would trim the F-35A order by more than half, keeping as few as 40 jets and buying up to 80 Saab JAS-39 Gripen Es to boost sovereignty and create jobs (estimates around 12,600). The Gripen package focuses on industrial benefits and domestic aerospace links, while 16 F-35s are already obligated and 72 remain undecided as a review ordered by Prime Minister Carney proceeds. A mixed fleet is intended to preserve NORAD/NATO interoperability while diversifying partners away from Lockheed Martin, though no final decision has been made.