Joanna Crews
Canada has announced plans to buy as many as 88 new fighter jets for the country’s air force through an open and competitive acquisition process.
The Canadian public services and procurement department said Tuesday it will assess proposals based on cost, technical requirements and technological, industrial and economic factors.
Canada’s government plans to draft a list of suppliers composed of foreign governments and fighter aircraft manufacturers that show potential to address requirements outlined in the “Suppliers List” invitation.
The process will also include planning and consultation with Canadian aerospace and defense companies over the next two years.
Award of a contract could happen by 2022 and delivery of the first aircraft could occur sometime in 2025, the public services and procurement department noted.
Canada expects the winning contractor to invest money in the country’s industrial base that will be equal to the contract’s potential value and in accordance with the “Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy.”
The Canadian government also intends to procure 18 supplemental jets from Australia in a move to supplement the current CF-18 fleet of Canada’s military until the arrival of the new fighter platform.
