Equipment Procurement

Department of National Defence (DND) Statement on F-35 Variants

On January 6, 2011, the US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, made an announcement concerning the short take off/vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35 aircraft.

The announcement can be found at the following link: http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14178

The Department of National Defence would like to make the following statement:

The F-35 portion of the US announcement is related to issues with the development and testing of the STOVL variant, one of the three variants of the F-35 aircraft.

The US Government will be extending the development and testing program and all costs will be borne by the US Government.

Canada is not purchasing the STOVL variant. Canada will order the conventional take off and landing (CTOL) variant, which is the lowest-cost option that the majority of JSF partners will also acquire. The CTOL variant is progressing very well.

Canada does not anticipate the announcement by the US Government regarding the STOVL variant will affect the schedule or cost of Canada’s Joint Strike Fighter Program.

Canada remains committed to investing $9 billion for 65 F-35 aircraft as its Next Generation Fighter Capability, a requirement that is outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy, and remains confident that this JSF Program will deliver the best aircraft at the best price.

For more information on the three variants of the F-35 aircraft, please visit the following link: http://www.jsf.mil/f35/f35_variants.htm