Canada is replacing its McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fleet with 88 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters, with the first aircraft set for delivery in 2026 and entry into Canadian service beginning in 2028. The decision reflects a clear operational reality: the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) can no longer sustain a fleet in which only around 40% of aircraft are mission-ready, while simultaneously meeting its NORAD and NATO commitments. As confirmed by the Government of Canada, the program represents the country’s most significant air power investment in more than 30 years.

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