Canada's Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, Stephen Fuhr, stated that the federal government does not intend to withdraw from its contract to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States. Currently, 16 of these jets are in production. "I don't think that's the direction we're heading," Fuhr said in a recent interview. He emphasized that a decision regarding the contract will be made when the government is ready.

Fuhr's comments come as the Liberal government has expressed plans to acquire a total of 88 F-35 jets from Lockheed Martin. This decision follows rising trade tensions with the U.S., which prompted former Defence Minister Bill Blair to announce a review of the procurement in March. A spokesperson for Fuhr clarified that the current commitment pertains specifically to the 16 jets under contract, not the entire fleet.

During the interview, Fuhr mentioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney will make a decision on the contract when he feels comfortable. He noted that infrastructure is being developed at two main operating bases for the F-35s. "There's infrastructure being built out at the two main operating bases," Fuhr said. "And when [Carney] is comfortable with making a decision, he'll make it."

When asked if the F-35 contract was being reconsidered in light of ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S., Fuhr responded, "No, I'm not considering that." He asserted that Canada is a sovereign nation capable of making its own decisions.

In a related development, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly expressed concerns about the industrial benefits Canada has received from the F-35 contract. She stated that the government believes it "didn't get enough" from the deal and emphasized the need for more job creation linked to the F-35 procurement. Joly's remarks came as Swedish defense firm Saab considers establishing production facilities in Canada for its Gripen fighter jets, potentially creating 10,000 jobs.

The Canadian government has committed to purchasing the first 16 F-35A jets as part of a broader plan to replace its aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets. However, the review of the remaining 72 jets is ongoing, particularly after the trade tensions initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Joly mentioned that the idea of a mixed fleet, which could include both F-35s and Gripens, is still on the table. She noted that Ukraine's efforts to build a diverse fleet from various suppliers demonstrate that a mixed fleet is feasible. However, this approach has sparked debate, with some experts arguing that no aircraft can match the capabilities of the F-35.

As the review continues, Fuhr indicated that the government is exploring ways to expedite military equipment procurement to meet NATO's defense spending targets. He expressed confidence that Canada could enhance its spending efficiency and utilize commercial contracting to speed up the process. "There's a whole bunch of different things we can do from the process and procedure side," Fuhr said. "I'll be very, very focused on making sure we use the right process for the right procurement to make sure it goes faster."