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.
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1 thought on “F-35 vs Gripen: Why a Mixed Fleet Makes Sense for Canada”
If there is a real need for a duel aircraft type, then the F-35 should be limited to the 16 aircraft already on order and the parts already on order for the next batch of F-35s should be used as spares. The reasons for this are simple:
– The operational cost per flight hour of the F-35 is roughly 4 times that of the Gripen E. This means a reduced amount of flight time for pilots as budgets inevitably shrink in the future.
– The mission availability for the F-35 is dismal with an availability rate of only 25% being reported by the US Government Accountability Office report in 2025, and
– With the F-35, Canada would lose control of spare parts and software for the F-35 fleet. If the United States could be counted upon this would not be an issue. However the United States is no longer a reliable ally with a leader who has a stated desire to make Canada into the 51st State.
Increasing the number of F-35s to 60 is doubling down on losing sovereign capabilities.
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