Canada to spend more than $6B on new weapons for F-35
The Canadian government plans to spend more than $6 billion on new weapons for the stealth fighters it has ordered from the U.S.
The purchases are separate from the $19 billion the Liberal government has committed for buying 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.
The $6.3 billion will be for new advanced air-to-air missiles that would cover short, medium and long-ranges, according to the Department of National Defence.
Funding earmarked for specific projects
The department said that some of the money will be earmarked for new still-to-be-determined weapons projects for the stealth fighters. The budget also covers maintenance of the weapons stockpiles.
National Defence noted that some of the new weaponry could be used for the existing CF-18 fleet. But with the missile arsenal not expected to be fully in place until the early 2030s, the bulk of the weapons are earmarked for the F-35.
In addition, the U.S. and Canada are now in negotiations for a separate delivery of weapons that will be included with the first F-35s. That will involve short and medium-range missiles as well as smart bombs to be used against ground targets.
Read the full story in David Pugliese’s Defence Watch, on the Ottawa Citizen website.
PHOTO: An F-35 fighter jet.
CREDIT: David Pugliese.
