this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2025
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Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked for a review of Canada’s plan to purchase a fleet of F-35 fighter jets.

The deal with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government is for 88 planes at a cost of about US$85 million each.

A spokesperson for Defence Minister Bill Blair said Carney has asked Blair to look into whether the F-35 contract is the best investment for Canada, or if there are better options.

β€œWe need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces,” Blair’s press secretary Laurent de Casanove said.

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[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 2 points 51 minutes ago

Prime Minister Carney, I have several better solutions. Cancel the F-35 and examine the Saab JAS-39 Gripen, Dassault Rafael, or the Eurofighter Typhoon.

[–] AFC1886VCC@reddthat.com 40 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Can I interest you in a Eurofighter Typhoon?

[–] Frostbeard@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Tbf. The F35 owns the sky. The Typhoon wins in a dog fight, but the way the F35 operates it eliminates the threat long before the dog fight. I would love for a European fifth generation planejme the F35 tho'

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 2 points 50 minutes ago

Only if the F-35 is fully operational. $2 trillion later and the damn thing is still a maintenance pig.

[–] Sturgist@lemmy.ca 11 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Me personally? I'd love to say yes, but I'm a bit skint atm.....could I get it on IOU?

[–] AFC1886VCC@reddthat.com 5 points 9 hours ago

Okay, make some space in the drive and I'll bring it over later.

[–] Punchshark@lemmy.ca 85 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Fuck yeah! Canada will vote with its dollar!

[–] alcoholicorn@lemmy.ml 27 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Canada could do the funniest thing rn by buying J-35s at half the price.

[–] vga@sopuli.xyz 8 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

Yeah, those are definitely safe from tampering.

[–] alcoholicorn@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

The purpose of buying jets from someone other than America is to reduce America's influence over Canada, why would China sabotage that?

Edit: Why is this controversial? Do you think America tampers with the weapons we send to Taiwan?

[–] homesnatch@lemm.ee 7 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

The US can remotely disable an F-35.. China, I'd expect can do the same for a J-35.

[–] wizzor@sopuli.xyz 8 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think the above poster doubts their ability, only that they might be less incentivized to do so compared to, say a country that has repeatedly voiced their wish to annex Canada.

[–] homesnatch@lemm.ee 4 points 1 hour ago

Nobody expects China to remotely disable J-35's on a whim... But they might do it as they prepare to invade Taiwan.

[–] BetaBlake@lemmy.world 26 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

It would be funny, but damn I would not want to buy military equipment from china

[–] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 8 points 9 hours ago

USA: We want to annex Canada. We are not joking

Canadians: Ooh China is very scary.

[–] alcoholicorn@lemmy.ml 9 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (5 children)

China is Canada's second biggest trade partner, unless they're planning to follow America to war with China, what's the problem? Especially because it's for a military that was designed for the singular purpose of defending itself from an American invasion over the last 70 years.

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

What's the problem?? China has shown its intent in other parts of the world with its 'belt and road' initiative and, tbh, Canada has little incentive to join that. Never mind the fact that the scumbag Stephen Harper locked us into a decidedly one-sided, 31 year long FIPPA with China that can't end until 2045.

Added to that is all the money laundering and fraud that China committed here beginning in the '90s.

Most Canadians are aware of this stuff, so are wary of joining forces with China in any way, shape or form.

[–] alcoholicorn@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 minutes ago

China has shown its intent in other parts of the world with its β€˜belt and road’ initiative

That intent being mutual development so other countries are less dependent on China's enemy and their economies can't be leveraged against China?

[–] yeather@lemmy.ca 3 points 9 hours ago

There’s also the downgrades and quality control issues you get with buying Chinese.

[–] AnarchoDakosaurus@toast.ooo 7 points 12 hours ago

The Canadian public isint ready to swallow it yet but that's where it's going to end up at. China and Iran have been preparing for this scenario for the last 20+ years.

They have all the kit and more needed, and in the right quantity too. In time. People still don't really belive Trump would push the button. The closer he gets the more open to this reality people will become.

[–] vga@sopuli.xyz 2 points 12 hours ago

I'm sure they weren't planning on getting into a war againt USA either.

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[–] hikuro93@lemmy.ca 62 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Heck yeah. Go Carney.

With love from Portugal. πŸ‡΅πŸ‡ΉπŸ€πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦

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[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 46 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Seems stupid to buy defense resources from a country that could become hostile. Do any European companies have anything to offer? I get that GOS and a lot of resources are still probably going to come from the USA but right now, the less the better.

[–] CircaV@lemmy.ca 35 points 19 hours ago (4 children)

It also seems stupid to keep importing on a mass scale the culture, news, entertainment, media, and media platforms of a country that wants to invade Canada. Yet here we are.

[–] fourish@lemmy.world 20 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I would be thrilled if all American social media was blocked 100%. Sweep the trolls back into their caves.

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[–] Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca 23 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (2 children)
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[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 37 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

There was the "kill switch" rumour recently that trump (any president) can remotely disable any/all f35s they wanted to

It's probably not true, but the truth is just as disasterous for foreign buyers.

A shutdown of parts out of US does essentially the same and is much easier to do on a whim and withhold the solution in negotiations.

People weren't just buying US because "we're the best" it's because we could be relied on for support, because no one fucksnwith the US military industrial complex

trump is tho, and that's a hell of a lot more dangerous for a politician than pissing off day traders

[–] Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca 25 points 20 hours ago (4 children)

They require maintenance in the US. How well would that work if the US was invading us?

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 18 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

...

Yes, that is the point I am making, and the argument your government is making for canceling the contract.

If trump were to cut off logistical support for that or any other whim, they would have to be mothballed.

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[–] Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca 16 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

It always seemed strange that Canada would agree (how much arm twisting?) to buy a plane that won't work well in our Arctic. We are committed to buying 16 jets but it would probably be better to buy the rest elsewhere or put our money into homegrown solutions. Maybe drones or other machines.

[–] Barbarian@sh.itjust.works 21 points 16 hours ago

Excuse me sir, may I interest you in Gripen? Cold weather tested, fascist free, and oh so stylish. Book your test flight today!

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[–] Sixtyforce@sh.itjust.works 24 points 20 hours ago

He's keeping up decorum but yeah these jets are done. You can't buy military equipment from an enemy and the jets would have to be serviced in the USA over their lifetime.

[–] Tm12@lemmy.ca 29 points 20 hours ago

Something we can train on and maintain within our borders please.

[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 15 points 18 hours ago

Messing with the military industrial complex is not the smartest move for Trump. All that will do is turn the military against him.

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