Ottawa: The Department of National Defense has been approved to spend $ 7 billion to buy 16 F-35 fighter jets and related equipment.
Two defence sources, on the request of anonymity, said a request for funds was made to the Treasury Board earlier this month in this regard and the green signal has been given for the same.
These funds were approved only after months of negotiations with the US government and Lockheed Martin after the F-35 beat Sweden’s Saab Gripen in the competition earlier this year.
Although the federal government has previously said that it wants to buy 88 new fighter jets by replacing its ageing CF-18s between 2026 and 2032, sources say that Canada will buy F-35 aircraft at short intervals in the next few years.
Before the end of this year, Canada had to place an initial order to buy these aircraft so that the purchase of these aircraft could be kept on track in a planned manner.
The Liberal government was expected to make an announcement in this regard two weeks ago, but according to sources, now announcement likely to be made in January.