Canada is forging ahead with the largest recapitalization of its air force since World War II.
The Department of National Defence has signed a 25-year, $11.2 billion deal with SkyAlyne Canada to provide and modernize air force training platforms. The biggest part of the deal — and the one most exciting to our inner 10-year-old — is the purchase of 70 training aircraft.
- Since 2022, Canada has procured or upgraded ~140 new aircraft for the Air Force. Earlier this week, Canada announced new F-35 fighter jets would arrive in 2026.
Why it matters: Canada’s relatively low defence spending has frequently upset its allies, and this new move comes less than a week after a group of U.S. senators sent an open letter calling on the feds to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP annual defence spending target.
Bottom line: It’ll take more than some pre-owned jets to cool Canada’s military critics.—QH