Why is Norway Estimating $40 Billion for 52 F-35s While Canada Says 65 F-35s Cost Around $14 Billion?
The latest questions in the House of Commons on DND’s F35 purchase are focusing on the differences of costs between Norway’s purchase and Canada’s acquisition of the Joint Strike Fighter.
Norway has put the total cost at around $40 billion for 52 aircraft.
So the question has arisen in the Commons about why is Canada spending $14.7 billion (DND’s estimate for total F35 procurement and 20 years of maintenance) and Norway is spending much more.
“Norway has acknowledged that the true cost of their 52 F-35s will be $40 billion or more,” NDP procurement critic Matthew Kellway said Monday.
He repeated the party’s call to put the next generation fighter project out for open bidding.
The Conservative government won’t be doing that of course. Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino did not answer the question about the discrepancy in the cost that Norway is paying versus what Canada will pay.
He instead repeated some of his familiar comments. “Our government’s preference is to put our trust in our pilots and materiel experts who know the importance of the F-35 program that is producing Twenty First Century fighter jets our military needs while at the same time sustaining quality aerospace jobs across Canada,” Fantino responded.
But the question remains – why the cost difference?
Norway’s F-35s will be using similar communications software for use over Arctic areas. It is also one of the countries, besides Canada, that is looking at the installation of a drag chute. Both nations are buying the same model of the plane.
Why is Norway Estimating $40 Billion for 52 F-35s While Canada Says 65 F-35s Cost Around $14 Billion? | Ottawa Citizen
The latest questions in the House of Commons on DND’s F35 purchase are focusing on the differences of costs between Norway’s purchase and Canada’s acquisition of the Joint Strike Fighter.
Norway has put the total cost at around $40 billion for 52 aircraft.
So the question has arisen in the Commons about why is Canada spending $14.7 billion (DND’s estimate for total F35 procurement and 20 years of maintenance) and Norway is spending much more.
“Norway has acknowledged that the true cost of their 52 F-35s will be $40 billion or more,” NDP procurement critic Matthew Kellway said Monday.
He repeated the party’s call to put the next generation fighter project out for open bidding.
The Conservative government won’t be doing that of course. Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino did not answer the question about the discrepancy in the cost that Norway is paying versus what Canada will pay.
He instead repeated some of his familiar comments. “Our government’s preference is to put our trust in our pilots and materiel experts who know the importance of the F-35 program that is producing Twenty First Century fighter jets our military needs while at the same time sustaining quality aerospace jobs across Canada,” Fantino responded.
But the question remains – why the cost difference?
Norway’s F-35s will be using similar communications software for use over Arctic areas. It is also one of the countries, besides Canada, that is looking at the installation of a drag chute. Both nations are buying the same model of the plane.
Why is Norway Estimating $40 Billion for 52 F-35s While Canada Says 65 F-35s Cost Around $14 Billion? | Ottawa Citizen
