Canada is proceeding "full steam ahead" on the F-35 fighter program until it hears otherwise, a top Department of National Defence official has told a House of Commons committee.

Deputy Defence Minister Stefani Beck testified before the tri-party public accounts committee on Tuesday, which is studying the latest auditor general's report on the increased cost of acquiring the stealth jet.

Last spring, shortly after coming to power, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the $27.7 billion purchase from U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin.

He suggested a decision on whether to proceed with the full purchase of 88 fighters — or to make a more limited buy and look elsewhere to fill out the fleet — would be made by late summer.

So far, nothing has been said.

"What we have as directio

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