The recent threat of tariffs against US and Canadian goods, started by US President Donald Trump , raised legitimate questions about the future of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) participation in the F-35 program. Aviation pundits, such as The War Zone’s Tyler Rogoway, were raising the question. However, Canadian plus Lockheed Martin communicators have reassured the public – and Simple Flying – the F-35 program is on track.
Tariff storm on pause – for now
US President Trump planned tariffs—or taxes placed on a nation’s citizens who import goods from a perceived nation in ill or bad standing—on Canadian goods for several reasons, such as lax border security, and Canadian leaders at both a national and provincial level planned retaliation. However, American President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were able to negotiate a pause on February 3.
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Part of that pause was reminding President Trump that Canada’s current government is working on an Aerial Intelligence Task Force for its Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with a C$1.3 billion ($908 million), according to BNN Bloomberg on December 17, which includes new helicopters and drones, as well as counter-drone technology. Details on the aircraft are to be forthcoming, but already General Atomics is assembling the first two MQ-9B Sky Guardians for the Royal Canadian Air Force:
However, more aircraft for securing Canada’s borders are in the works – such as the Boeing P-8A Poseidon that Boeing will assemble in Renton, Washington State and new helicopters also. One can safely consider Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program part of that.
British Columbia’s Premier muses risks to RCAF procurement
The current Premier of British Columbia – a rough equivalent to a United States governor – in David Eby with work experience as a civil rights lawyer and politician instead of defense or economics, mused during a February 1 press conference that,
“The prime minister will speak for the national approach … For major defense expenditures, which I know is a priority for the Americans, for the president, he wants to see Canada putting additional money into defense, well, we are all happy to do that work together, but these tariffs will force Canada into procuring from other countries.”
However, Premier Eby may know little about military procurement or why the F-35 is vital to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s future, but aviation pundits are also concerned. Hence a need to share some details.
Aviation pundits raise concern for the F-35
Noting that the F-35 is dependent on an international supply chain that includes Canadian firms and Canada is a F-35 customer; respected aviation pundits like The War Zone’s Tyler Rogoway took to social media with their concerns.
Then there’s this:
As such, Simple Flying reached out to the Royal Canadian Air Force. A Canadian Defence spokesperson shared with Simple Flying;
Canada’s procurement of the F-35 is proceeding as planned.
Additionally, a Lockheed Martin senior spokesperson shared with Simple Flying that the prime manufacturer of the F-35 has a response of:
“We are carefully evaluating the announcement and will work with our suppliers to address any potential impacts.”
With the tariffs currently on hold, the potential impacts will hopefully remain at zero. However, it’s worth noting that Canada is a major contributor to the F-35.
Canadian Contributions to the F-35 Enterprise
Canada on January 9, 2023, ordered 88 F-35s to replace its CF-18 Hornets dating from the 1980s. This is after years of being a leader of the F-35 Enterprise and having over 100 firms contribute to the F-35’s manufacturing. Below are two official infographics about Canadian manufacturing participation:
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One can also learn more from this video posted to social media:
To quote Lockheed Martin Billie Flynn’s personal blog about the F-35’s economic impacts for Canada,
“F-35 will generate 150,000 jobs over the lifetime of the program in Canada. That is high skillset, high tech, digital transformation work which spans the country. Already more than 200+ men and women in the Maritimes are employed supporting F-35 work bringing nearly $1B to its aerospace sector over the life of F-35. Jobs in Montreal at Heroux-Devtek and PCC Aerostructures, plus Pratt and Whitney Canada contribute to F-35. From Ottawa to Hamilton to Winnipeg to BC, Canadians contribute to this new generation of fighters, working now and for decades to come. The opportunities that come to the F-35 suppliers, tangent to this work but in large part due to the capabilities developed to support F-35, bring even more business to these companies.”
There are also some economic facts from the Canadian Government’s November 25, 2024 statement on building a new CF-35 depot,
Trump’s Tariffs Raise Questions For Canada’s Participation In F-35 Program
