Ottawa has paid nearly US $ 100 million under a renegotiated deal that expects Canada to get a larger share of the bill for F-35 fighter development than ever before.
The US $ 99 million payout and renegotiated deal will come even as the Liberal government says Canada may not buy this stealth fighter from Lockheed Martin.
The government announced at the end of March that it would enter into negotiations for the acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets, but at the same time it left the door open for the purchase of another fighter, of Swedish manufacture, if the the conversation was to explode with the American company.
Canada is one of eight partner countries involved in the development of the F-35, and its latest contribution means it has already contributed US $ 712 million to the program so far.
Defense officials said the updated agreement reflected Canada’s desire to buy 88 new fighters instead of 65 as planned, as well as Turkey’s withdrawal from the F-35 program.
But the negotiated agreement also came as U.S. officials raised new concerns last week about rising costs and development issues for the stealth fighter.
Source: Radio-Canada
