The Royal Canadian Air Force has received its first two Lockheed Martin CF-35A Lightning II fighters, accepted on 22 October at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The aircraft will remain in the United States for initial training of Canadian pilots and maintainers, beginning Canada’s transition from the CF-188 Hornet without yet providing an operational combat capability.
Canada plans to base its first eight CF-35As at Luke, which has established infrastructure for international F-35 training. The arrangement will allow personnel preparation to begin while the Department of National Defence completes facilities at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, and 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec.
The first aircraft are expected to arrive in Canada in 2028, with initial operational capability planned for 2029-2030. The first CF-35A completed its maiden flight on 23 September at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ottawa has confirmed funding or commitments for the initial 16 aircraft, while its broader plan to acquire 88 remains under review amid continuing trade and political tensions with the United States. The delivery therefore moves the programme from procurement and manufacturing into acceptance, training and force generation, but does not settle the final size of Canada’s future fighter fleet.