Lockheed Jet Deal to Cost Canada More Than $20 Billion, Auditor Says
A model F-35 fighter jet at the Lockheed Martin booth at the Canadian Association of Defence & Security Industries (CANSEC) trade show in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Photographer: James Park/BloombergCanada’s purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets will cost far more than projected, and the country faces a potential shortage of qualified pilots to fly them, a government audit has found.
The overall cost estimate of the order has jumped to C$27.7 billion ($20.2 billion), almost 50% more than originally anticipated, Canadian Auditor General Karen Hogan said in a report. There will be at least C$5.5 billion in additional costs for infrastructure upgrades and advanced weapons, she said.