UMVA has learned that a stunning reversal in Canada's fighter jet procurement process is imminent, with the government poised to announce the purchase of Sweden's Gripen jet over the F-35, despite the latter's superior military capabilities and the Canadian military's clear preference for it.
The leadership of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Department of National Defence, and Defence Minister David McGuinty all strongly support proceeding with the planned purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets, but it appears that Industry Minister Melanie Joly and Stephen Fuhr, a former fighter pilot turned point man for the Prime Minister on defence procurement, are pushing for the Gripen.
Fuhr's opposition to the F-35 is reportedly rooted in a personal dislike for the fifth-generation stealth aircraft, while Joly's support for the Gripen is driven by a combination of anti-American sentiment and a desire to secure manufacturing jobs in Montreal, despite questionable claims that it would create 10,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, senior leadership at National Defence has been effectively shut out of the decision-making process, and Ottawa insiders suggest that Fuhr has gained significant influence over the Prime Minister, using his access to undermine support for the F-35 behind the scenes.
Internal documents obtained by UMVA reveal that when the F-35 and Gripen were ranked head-to-head by Canadian officials, the F-35 scored a resounding 57 out of 60, while the Gripen managed a paltry 19 out of 60, highlighting the vast technical and military advantages of the F-35.
The RCAF is already struggling with pilot and maintenance technician shortages, and adding the complexity of a new plane like the Gripen would only exacerbate these challenges, but it seems that politics is trumping military necessity in this decision.
Canada has been embroiled in a decades-long saga over the F-35, having committed to the Joint Strike Fighter Program in 1997, only to have the project become a political football, with successive governments reversing course and re-evaluating the purchase.
The timing of the expected announcement favouring the Gripen appears to be linked to the Farnborough International Airshow in July, where Canada is also expected to commit to the Global Combat Air Programme, a plan to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet with Britain, Italy, and Japan.
The consequences of this decision are still unclear, but Canadians have yet to be told about the potential implications of ditching the F-35, including the impact on jobs, national security, and Canada's relationships with NATO allies.
