Canada’s government on Wednesday widened its multi-billion-dollar search for a new fighter jet to models other than the F-35 it has spent 15 years helping the United States and other allies to develop.
The largest-ever government procurement in Canadian history has come under fire by opposition parties over rising costs, and an apparent lack of transparency and competition in the process.
Officials did not say which other aircraft may be considered as a replacement for its aging fleet of CF-18 fighter jets, due to be retired in 2020, nor when a final decision may be expected.
“No decision has been taken on a replacement for the CF-18s,” a senior government official told a media briefing.
An independent report for the government said all “fighter aircraft that are currently in production or scheduled to be in production” are in the running.
Opening up the process to bidding does not preclude Canada sticking with the F-35, which the government and the military still appear favor.
Canada, the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, Turkey, Italy and Norway are jointly developing the F-35 fighter.
Seventy-two Canadian companies are involved in the program, with contracts estimated to be worth $438 million (335 million euros).
In 2010, the government calculated the cost of acquiring 65 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets at Can$9 billion, plus maintenance over 20 years for a total of Can$25.1 billion.
At the urging of the auditor general, on Wednesday released a new estimate of the costs over a 42-year period between 2010 to 2052.
According to revised estimates by consulting firm KPMG for the government, the 65 jets would cost Can$45.8 billion.
These costs include development, acquisition, maintenance and operation of the aircraft based on 11,700 annual flight hours — 20 percent fewer than the CF-18s currently fly — as well as initial pilot training.
Canada widens search for fighter jet beyond F-35
