Ottawa has started to make payments for key components for 14 additional U.S.-built F-35s, even as the Carney government has been reviewing future fighter-jet purchases in the context of trade tensions with Washington, sources have told CBC News.
The money for these 14 aircraft is in addition to the contract for a first order of 16 F-35s, which will start being delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces at the end of the year.
According to sources, the new expenses are related to the purchase of so-called “long-lead items,” which are parts that must be ordered well in advance of the delivery of a fully assembled aircraft.
Canada had to make these expenditures to maintain its place in the long-term delivery schedule and avoid being replaced by other buyers in the queue, sources said.
Well, they certainly have the ability to manufacture those parts themselves, but you’re absolutely correct that they would have to deal with a massive disruption to their existing supply chain. If they didn’t take the appropriate measures well ahead of such a drastic step it certainly would ground the fleet for quite a while, until they got domestic production sorted out.