Canada’s parliamentary budget officer (PBO) has reportedly sent a letter to Defense Minister Anita Anand requesting information on the deal, investigating the federal government’s recent $19 billion purchase of F-35 fighter jets. ing.
“I ask that the information be provided to my office by February 13, 2023 in order to provide parliamentarians with an analysis in a timely manner,” PBO’s Yves Giroux told Anand on January 16. In a letter, the Ottawa newspaper reports. citizen.
The information Giroud requested from the Department of Defense included data on the financial risk analysis prepared for the F-35 procurement, details of the aircraft’s planned flight hours, projected operating costs, and a signed agreement with the U.S. government to provide. include a copy of the contract signed. Yearly recap of the aircraft, and the federal government of Canada spent on his F-35 development.
The Epoch Times reached out to Giroud for comment but did not immediately respond.
Anand announced that Ottawa had purchased 88 F-35 jets from Lockheed Martin of the United States on January 9, the largest investment made to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 30 years. said there is.
Anand said the jets will be delivered in installments over the next nine years, with the first four delivered in 2026, the next six in 2027 and a further six in 2028. It’s a schedule.
cost
The government’s $19 billion investment will also cover costs associated with upgrading Air Force Bases in Baggotville, Kay and Cold Lake, Alta, where jets are stationed.
Since the air force base will not be upgraded in time to accommodate the first 16 jets upon delivery, the F-35 will be temporarily stationed in the United States pending the necessary upgrades.
The government’s $19 billion investment doesn’t cover all the costs associated with jet aircraft.
The Pentagon said in a Jan. 9 briefing that it would cost Ottawa an additional $70 billion to keep the F-35 fleet operational.
In 2015, the Trudeau government said it would launch an open competition to replace Canada’s obsolete CF-18 Hornets, but it would not buy the F-35 jets.
Trudeau’s remarks were a response to Stephen Harper’s Conservative government’s announcement in 2010 that it intended to procure 65 F-35 jets without competition.
Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Peter Wilson is a reporter based in Ontario, Canada.