F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

Canada's Next Generation Fighter Capability

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program involves the development, production and sustainment of a stealthy, multirole fighter aircraft. Globally, the F-35 JSF is the largest fighter aircraft program, with an expected total value of $383 billion USD. Canada is one of nine countries in the F-35 JSF program, along with the U.S., UK, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Denmark and Australia. The production of approximately 3,100 aircraft for partner countries will provide significant work for Canadian companies. Additional aircraft will be exported to Israel and Japan, and possibly others.

Canada has been a participant in the F-35 JSF program since 1997. This early involvement has been providing Canadian industry with the opportunity to become a part of the F-35 JSF supply chain. In order to maximize affordability, the partner countries agreed to a best-value approach to industrial participation which awards work to the most competitive companies. Canadian industry is well positioned and companies are gaining long-lasting, high quality business.

The F-35 JSF program delivers on the Canada First Defence Strategy's commitment to a renewed relationship with Canada's defence industry, leveraging Canada's competitive advantage and working with industry to help position Canadian companies for success in the global marketplace.

In 2006, Industry Canada signed Memoranda of Understanding — containing industrial participation plans — with each of the prime contractors (Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney). These agreements ensure that Canadian companies can compete for work on the JSF program, including the airframe, systems, engines and associated services. Opportunities include providing a wide range of manufacturing and services in areas such as major structural assemblies, electronic systems, advanced composites, high speed machining, simulation and training, tooling, sustainment, and landing gear maintenance.

Industry Canada works with partners including the Departments of National Defence and Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the regional economic development agencies and the Industrial Technologies Office to maximize Canadian industrial participation on the program through activities such as opportunity identification, awareness and outreach, technology investment, and capability matching. Participation in the JSF global supply chain is creating jobs and sustained economic benefits for regions across Canada.

The involvement of Canadian industry from the beginning of the multi-year, multi-billion dollar program has provided unprecedented access to a significant multinational defence program for companies across Canada, including small and medium enterprises. To date, 70 Canadian companies have secured over $435 million USD in contracts on F35 development and initial production (up from $370 million USD in June 2011).

As the program enters full-rate production, opportunities for Canadian industry will increase accordingly. Further opportunities will be available to Canadian industry in areas such as sustainment, maintenance, repair, training, and simulation. Significant industrial benefits related to JSF in-service support are expected over a 40 year time span.

For more information about the F-35 JSF program, please consult its official website at F-35 Lightning II Program website.

At Industry Canada, the JSF Industrial Participation contacts are:

Craig Morris, Telephone: 613-941-3469
Agusti Bordas Cusco, Telephone: 613-948-5382
Clem Srour, Telephone: 613-952-5157
Julia Harrison, Telephone: 613-954-8350