The F-35 fighter jet, manufactured in the United States, significantly outperformed the Swedish Gripen in a 2021 evaluation conducted by the Defense Department. The assessment focused on the jets' capabilities to defend North America and their effectiveness in various military missions. The F-35 achieved a score of 95 percent in military capabilities, totaling 57.1 points out of a possible 60. In contrast, the Gripen-E scored only 33 percent, with 19.8 points out of 60, according to rankings from the Department of National Defense (DND) obtained by Radio-Canada. The evaluation highlighted a notable disparity in areas such as mission performance and the aircraft's potential for upgrades throughout its operational life. The Defense Department has not commented on the specific scoring from the 2021 competition, stating that its review of the F-35 procurement is still ongoing. Experts and representatives from both aircraft manufacturers noted that they had not previously seen these detailed results. David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, remarked, "The capability assessment here says that there is a clear-cut winner, no contest, no ambiguity. I’d expected that [the F-35] was going to be a clear winner, but this is a winner by a mile." Justin Massie, a defense expert at the Université du Québec à Montréal, stated that the Gripen's performance was "systematically inferior" to that of the F-35. He raised concerns about Canada potentially opting for a less capable aircraft. Former Royal Canadian Air Force lieutenant-general Yvan Blondin emphasized the F-35's advantages, citing its superior stealth and ability to integrate data from various military assets. He stated, "When you compare them, they’re not even close. The F-35 is the best fighter jet in the world, by far." However, retired officer Charles “Duff” Sullivan expressed concerns that the criteria used in the evaluation favored the F-35. He noted that the F-35 program has faced delays, which could impact the delivery of promised capabilities. In 2022, after assessing both aircraft against its minimum requirements, Canada awarded a contract for 88 F-35 jets, valued at over $27 billion, to Lockheed Martin. The Carney government is currently reviewing this purchase in light of U.S. trade policies. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly indicated that Canada might consider switching to the Gripen if Lockheed Martin does not enhance the economic benefits of the contract. Joly stated, "I don't believe that we've had enough jobs created and industrial benefits done out of the F-35 contract. I think Canadians expect more, and we should get more." Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen, claimed they had not seen the final scores from the 2021 competition. Nevertheless, they defended the Gripen as a versatile aircraft that can adapt to emerging threats and is designed for rapid upgrades. Marcus Wandt, a Gripen pilot and vice-president at Saab, said, "It's built for a mission that we still don't know, and it's built for technology that we still haven't seen." Lockheed Martin did not directly address the evaluation results but reiterated that the F-35 is the best option for Canada. Currently, Canada has placed a firm order for 16 F-35s. If Canada opts for a mixed fleet, the Gripens would be assembled domestically. The Carney government is interested in Saab's promise to create 10,000 jobs for assembling fighter jets in Canada. Lockheed Martin has projected over $15 billion in economic benefits over the life of the F-35 contract, with approximately $3 million in Canadian content for each of the 3,600 jets to be delivered. However, the company warned that the economic benefits could diminish if Canada reduces its order. Massie cautioned against making aircraft purchase decisions based solely on job creation, emphasizing the need to evaluate military needs. Blondin suggested that a mixed fleet should be considered as a long-term strategy, potentially alongside new combat drones. Sullivan recommended that Canada commit to purchasing 24 F-35s while exploring the possibility of acquiring Gripens, as it was the only other aircraft to qualify in the 2021 evaluation.