Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is asking two defence companies to compete for Canada’s fighter fleet order, saying the country’s current contract for American-made F-35 stealth fighter jets doesn’t deliver enough economic benefits.
Joly told reporters this week that Ottawa is in talks with Swedish defence company Saab, which has dangled the possibility of 10,000 aerospace manufacturing jobs coming to Canada if the government puts in an order for a fleet of its Gripen fighter jets.
Meanwhile, Joly said Canada “didn’t get enough” out of its current $27 billion deal with American firm Lockheed Martin to buy 88 U.S.-made F-35 jets. She said Ottawa is continuing to look at what the U.S. firm can offer, but noted she also wants to see if Saab can provide a better deal….