Canadian defence officials have strongly made the case that Ottawa should stick to a plan to buy 88 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets rather than splitting the order, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The review stops short of making a formal recommendation, one of the sources said.

The final decision rests with the Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney, said the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.

Carney, who won the April election on a promise to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump, had requested the review by military officials in March on the grounds that Canada was over-reliant on the U.S. defence industry.

Ottawa has made a legal commitment of funds for the first 16 F-35 aircraft. Although Carney ma

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