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3d ago

Canada Weighs Gripen Shift as U.S. Warns of NORAD Gaps

A U.S. warning over continental air defense raises the stakes for Ottawa’s review of a Swedish-built alternative promising Canadian jobs.

U.S. Air Force crew chiefs perform post flight maintenance on an F-35A Lightning II after its first arrival in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Dec. 20, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Overview

  • Reports indicate Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering replacing the remaining 72 planned F-35s with Saab Gripen Es, creating a mixed fleet alongside the 16 F-35s already funded.
  • U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said NORAD arrangements would need to change and the United States would “fill those gaps” if Canada does not field the full F-35 capability.
  • Sixteen F-35s are contractually committed with deliveries expected to begin this year, while the review of the other 72 has introduced uncertainty into a timeline previously projected for 2032–2034.
  • Saab’s proposal includes Canadian assembly of Gripen fighters and GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, with the company claiming 12,600 domestic jobs and leveraging Bombardier’s Global 6500 platform.
  • The debate centers on capability and interoperability, with analyses highlighting the F-35’s fifth‑generation networking and upgrade path even as political and industrial factors—including a tariff threat from President Trump—weigh on the decision.