Canada Receives First Two F-35As as Fleet Plan Remains Under Review

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) received its first two Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters on October 22, 2026, at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The RCAF announced their arrival the following day. In Canadian service, the aircraft will use the designation CF-35A. Their delivery is a tangible program milestone, but it does not settle the central procurement question: how many F-35s Canada will ultimately acquire, or whether it will operate a mixed fleet with Saab Gripen aircraft. For contractors, the delivery signals activity while leaving the program’s eventual scope unresolved.

Canada announced an agreement in January 2023 to purchase 88 F-35A aircraft. That planned quantity is now under review, following an order by Prime Minister Mark Carney to reassess the procurement amid deteriorating relations with Washington. Ottawa is also considering a fleet combining the F-35 and Saab Gripen; no decision has been announced. The F-35 and Gripen were finalists in the competition to replace Canada’s CF-18 Hornets. Until the government confirms the fleet size and composition, suppliers should treat the 88-aircraft figure as a planning baseline rather than a final commitment.

The first aircraft are part of a staged introduction. Under the published procurement plan, the first eight aircraft will be based at Luke Air Force Base for training while Canada prepares infrastructure at home. The first CF-35As are expected to arrive in Canada in 2028, although the RCAF has not announced when F-35 pilot training will begin. Facilities are being prepared at Cold Lake, Alberta, and Bagotville, Quebec. These activities create potential work across training, facilities, equipment, and support, but the timing and amount of demand will depend on implementation decisions and the final fleet plan.

The procurement encompasses more than aircraft: it also includes weapons, training, software support, and infrastructure. Canada’s stated planning milestones call for initial operational capability in 2029–2030 and full operational capability in 2032–2034, with the aircraft expected to remain in service beyond 2060. That long service horizon points to a sustained support requirement if the program proceeds, while the fleet review creates near-term uncertainty about quantities and configuration. Companies should monitor government announcements for decisions affecting aircraft numbers, the possible Gripen option, training arrangements, and Canadian facilities before treating anticipated requirements as firm opportunities.

• The RCAF received its first two F-35As on October 22, 2026, at Luke Air Force Base; the service designation is CF-35A.
• The announced 2023 plan was to purchase 88 aircraft, but the final fleet size remains under review.
• Canada is considering a possible mixed F-35/Gripen fleet; no decision has been announced.
• The first eight aircraft are planned to remain at Luke for training while Canadian infrastructure is prepared; the RCAF has not announced a pilot-training start date.
• The first CF-35As are expected in Canada in 2028, with facilities being prepared at Cold Lake, Alberta, and Bagotville, Quebec.
• The broader procurement includes weapons, training, software support, and infrastructure, creating potential requirements across multiple supplier categories.
• Published milestones set initial operational capability for 2029–2030 and full operational capability for 2032–2034.
• The aircraft are expected to remain in service beyond 2060, but suppliers should qualify long-term demand against the unresolved fleet decision.