The FIGHTER Showdown
The Best of Both Wings: Why a Mixed F-35 and Gripen E Fleet Makes Strategic Sense
As Canada moves forward with replacing its aging CF-18 Hornet fleet, the debate continues over the optimal composition of the Royal Canadian Air Force‘s future fighter force. While the government has committed to the acquisition of the F-35A Lightning II, broader questions surrounding affordability, readiness, Arctic operations, and sovereignty remain under discussion.
CDR staff writer, Richard Nghiem, examines the relative strengths and limitations of three potential paths forward—an all-F-35 fleet, a Gripen-centric force, and a mixed fleet combining the F-35A and Saab Gripen E—to assess which option may best meet Canada’s unique defence requirements in an increasingly complex security environment.
The analysis points toward a mixed fleet of 60 F-35As and 40 Gripen Es as the most balanced path—pairing fifth-generation stealth with a platform built for Arctic operations and designed for dispersed, austere basing.
READ THE REPORT HERE.
