The United States has warned that any decision by Canada to reduce or abandon its planned purchase of F-35 fighter jets could have implications for the long-standing North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) agreement. The warning was issued by the US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, amid growing uncertainty over the future of the deal.
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Canada agreed in 2022 to buy 88 F-35A jets from Lockheed Martin, but the programme has faced delays and rising costs. An audit published in 2025 estimated the total cost at $27.7 billion, significantly higher than the original projection of $19 billion. As a result, the Canadian government has confirmed it is reviewing the contract and assessing alternative options.
Hoekstra said that if Canada were to purchase fewer jets, the United States would need to compensate for any resulting security gaps, potentially increasing its own air patrols, including operations within Canadian airspace. He suggested that such a move would require changes to NORAD, the joint US-Canada defence agreement that allows both countries to operate across shared airspace to intercept threats.
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Canadian officials have indicated they are considering other suppliers, including Sweden’s Saab, which has proposed manufacturing Gripen E jets in Canada and creating thousands of jobs. While Ottawa says it is focused on balancing national security with economic benefits, the US has cautioned that choosing a less interoperable aircraft could weaken joint defence capabilities and force a reassessment of bilateral security arrangements.
