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The Department of National Defence is proceeding to spend an initial $500 million for two new F-35 hangars even as the Liberal government continues to weigh the decision to purchase of the stealth fighter jet.
But ultimately the new infrastructure that will be needed for the U.S.-built F-35s will cost at least $2 billion, the department confirmed.
Construction of the first hangar will begin in Cold Lake, Alta., in the coming months, while work on a similar installation at Bagotville, Que., will start in the fall, DND noted.
“Site preparation has already begun at both locations,” DND spokesperson Kened Sadiku stated in an email.“Construction of the Fighter Squadron Facility is estimated to begin late Summer — early Fall 2025 for Cold Lake and a few months later in Bagotville.”
DND did not provide more specific details on the timings for construction.
Specifics on the final cost are still unknown, according to the department.
“It is too early to confirm the full cost of FFCP (Future Fighter Capability Project) infrastructure at this time,” Sadiku said. “However, these costs are part of the overall project cost and are evaluated at over $2 billion.”
The current plan is for 36 of the 88 incoming CF-35As to be stationed at Bagotville and the remaining 52 at Cold Lake, the DND statement said.
“This new infrastructure will help ensure our personnel have the facilities they need to support the long-term operation and maintenance of the new aircraft,” Sadiku added.
The new hangars are specially constructed for the stealth F-35 and must meet requirements set out by the United States government.
The new construction comes in the midst of a review ordered by the Liberal government. Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of Canada’s F-35 purchase in mid-March in the wake of threats against Canadian sovereignty by U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. has become increasingly hostile to Canada, with Trump continuing with his economic efforts to punish Canada and push for this country to become the 51st state.
The review is being conducted by officials with the Royal Canadian Air Force and DND, both organizations that originally played roles in selecting and advocating for the purchase of the F-35.
The Liberal government announced in January 2023 it was spending $19 billion to acquire 88 F-35s from the U.S., but at this point Canada has only financially committed to purchasing the first 16 jets which are being built by Lockheed Martin in the U.S.
Defence Minister David McGuinty has said the F-35 review is expected to be completed by the end of the summer and will be made public.
“We’ll be taking possession of those 16 F-35 fighter jets in the next several months, by the new year at the latest,” McGuinty told journalists on June 10.
That, however, isn’t true.
The DND statement to the Ottawa Citizen noted that Canada would receive its first four jets in 2026, followed by four in 2027 and four in 2028. The first eight will go to Luke Air Force Base in the United States to enable the training of Canadian pilots, and the first aircraft will come to Canada in 2028, according to the statement.
Auditor General Karen Hogan revealed June 10 that the cost of Canada’s F-35 purchase had skyrocketed by nearly 50 per cent from $19 billion to $27.7 billion.
Another $5.5 billion will be needed to achieve full operation capability for the planes, Hogan added.
Part of the increase was because of U.S. concerns over the original design of hangars and other facilities for the stealth fighters to be built at Cold Lake and Bagotville. Those facilities had to be redesigned.
Some retired military officers as well as defence analysts from DND-funded think tanks have argued that Canada should proceed with its entire F-35 purchase because it needs to remain a strong ally of the U.S.
But retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, the air force general who recommended Canada buy the F-35 fighter jet, now says the purchase should no longer go forward as planned because the U.S. has become so untrustworthy.
Critics have pointed out that the U.S. also controls all aspects of software upgrades needed for the F-35 to continue flying. That, in turn, could pose a security risk because of the U.S. shift to a more hostile relationship with Canada.
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe