Programme Will Sustain up to 150,000 Jobs
On 30 July the US government submitted a response to the request for proposal from Canada for its Future Fighter Capability Project, offering the Lockheed Martin F-35 LIGHTNING II.
Canada has been a valued partner since the inception of the Joint Strike Fighter competition, according to a company statement on 31 July. Canadian industry plays an integral role in the global F-35 supply chain and has gained significant technical expertise over its 15+ year involvement in F-35 production.
“The 5th-generation F-35 would transform the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet and deliver the capabilities necessary to safeguard Canadian skies. The F-35’s unique mix of stealth and sensor technology will enable the Royal Canadian Air Force to modernize their contribution to NORAD operations, ensure Arctic sovereignty and meet increasingly sophisticated global threats,” commented Greg Ulmer, F-35 Program Executive VP.
The F-35 programme will continue to bring manufacturing and production opportunities to Canada, with an estimated 150,000 jobs supported over its duration. The program connects Canadian industry to a global supply chain supporting a growing fleet that will deliver more than 3,200 aircraft and delivers sustainment well past 2060. To date, the F-35 operates from 24 bases worldwide. More than 1,040 pilots and over 9,340 maintainers are trained. Nine nations operate the F-35 from their home soil and six services have employed F-35s in combat operations.