Canadian Government Involvement
Canada has been an active participant in the JSF program since 1997, when it joined the Concept Demonstration Phase with an investment of $10 million USD.
In 2002, Canada invested an additional $150 million USD to join the System Development and Demonstration Phase. That investment granted the Department of National Defence access to a wide variety of JSF program technologies and data, new management and engineering approaches. Just as importantly it increased access for Canadian Industry to contracts with JSF.
The Department of National Defence has also received authority to join the Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Memorandum of Understanding from 2006 – 2012.
In May 2008, the Canadian Government unveiled the Canada First Defence Strategy. It clearly lays out the government’s intention to replace the current fleet of CF-18 aircraft with a Next Generation Fighter Capability. A preliminary assessment of the F-35 has been completed.
Canadian Government participation in the JSF program is strongly supported by the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada, and other government departments including Industry Canada and Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
