Ted Lee — Freedom Through Knowledge

🇨🇦 Your Voice Matters — Canada's $30 Billion Decision

Write Your MP and
the Minister of National Defence

Canada's fighter jet decision is one of the most expensive procurement choices in our history. The cost keeps rising, our allies are reconsidering, and your MP needs to hear from constituents. This page gives you the facts and the letter.

💰 C$30B+ and Rising 🏭 12,600 Canadian Jobs at Stake 🛡️ Software Sovereignty 🌍 Allies Reconsidering ✉️ Ready-to-Send Letter
🇨🇦 YOU Constituent letter 🏛️ MP + Minister of Nat. Defence asks Key Questions: How many Canadian jobs: Gripen vs F-35? Who controls F-35 software upgrades? Does ODIN send our data to U.S. servers? Why are Switzerland & Portugal pulling back? Please reply in writing.
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Why Write?

Why Your Voice Matters on This Decision

Canada's fighter jet procurement has already grown from C$19 billion to C$30 billion — and the final tally is still unknown. This is your tax money. Your children's tax money. And the decision permanently shapes Canada's military sovereignty for 40+ years.

C$30B+
Current F-35 program cost (up from C$19B in 2023)[1]
US$36K+
F-35 cost per flight hour — GAO confirmed Sept 2025[2]
12,600
Canadian jobs projected from Gripen E + GlobalEye[3]
~US$5K
Gripen E estimated cost per flight hour — 7× cheaper[4]
In 2026: Prime Minister Carney ordered a formal review of the full F-35 fleet size. Canada is contractually committed to 16 jets but the remaining 72 are still under review. Switzerland is cutting its order. Portugal halted its program. Your MP needs to know constituents are paying attention.
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Background — Know Before You Write

Key Facts Before You Write

1
The Cost Gap Is Enormous

F-35 costs C$30B+ (rising) at US$36K+ per flight hour. Gripen E costs roughly US$5K per flight hour — about 7 times cheaper to operate. Over a 40-year fleet life, that difference compounds into tens of billions of dollars.[2]

2
Canada Does Not Control F-35 Software or Hardware Upgrades

The F-35 is subject to U.S. ITAR export control. Every software upgrade, hardware modification, or new weapon integration requires U.S. government approval — permanently. Canada cannot adapt its own F-35s to Canadian needs without American permission.[5]

3
ODIN Sends Canadian Data to U.S. Servers

The F-35's ODIN maintenance system transmits Canadian aircraft operational data to Lockheed Martin and U.S. government infrastructure. Canada has no contractual ability to prevent this — it is built into the aircraft's architecture.[5]

4
Gripen + GlobalEye Means 12,600 Canadian Jobs

Saab's proposal includes Canadian assembly, technology transfer, and the GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft built on Canada's own Bombardier Global 6000/6500 platform. Saab has offered a sovereign data centre in Montreal so all mission data stays in Canada.[3]

5
Multiple Allies Are Reconsidering

Switzerland is cutting its F-35 order after a CHF 1.3B cost overrun. Portugal halted its program. Belgium and Germany face political pressure to review their decisions. NPR reported NATO allies are reconsidering U.S. platforms due to unpredictable American foreign policy.[6]

6
Stealth Has Real Limitations

Modern VHF/UHF radar, bistatic networks, and infrared search systems can detect the F-35 at long range. Russia's Nebo-M and China's JY-27A can track low-observable targets at 300 km+. The stealth advantage is real but narrowing as adversaries invest specifically in counter-stealth capabilities.[4]

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Step-by-Step

How to Find and Contact Your MP

1
Find Your MP by Postal Code

Go to the Parliament of Canada's member search. Enter your postal code to find your elected Member of Parliament and their direct email address.

2
Also Email the Minister of National Defence

Send a copy to the Minister of National Defence through the DND contact page. This procurement decision is made at the ministerial level, not just by individual MPs.

3
Copy the Letter Below — Personalize the Placeholders

Replace all highlighted fields with your own details. The more personal the letter, the more impact it has. A personal addition of one or two sentences about your own concern is always effective.

🔍 Find My MP 🏛️ Contact DND
✉️
Ready to Copy and Send

Your Letter to Your MP

How to use: Copy the letter below into your email client. Replace all highlighted yellow fields with your own information. Send to your MP and CC the Minister of National Defence. Ask for a written reply — you are entitled to one as a constituent.
Subject: Canada's Fighter Jet Procurement — Questions for My Member of Parliament

Dear [MP's Full Name],

I am writing to you as a constituent of [Your Riding Name] regarding Canada's fighter aircraft procurement decision. This is one of the most significant and expensive defence purchases in Canadian history, and I believe the public deserves clear, honest answers before any final commitment is made.

As costs have now risen to approximately C$30 billion — up from the C$19 billion announced in 2023 — and as allied nations including Switzerland and Portugal are reconsidering or scaling back their own F-35 orders, I believe it is the right time to ask serious questions.

Specifically, I am concerned about the following:

  • Cost escalation: The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated C$73.9 billion in full lifecycle costs. The Government Accountability Office has confirmed the F-35's cost per flight hour now exceeds US$36,000. The Gripen E is estimated at approximately US$5,000 per flight hour — roughly seven times less expensive to operate over the fleet's lifetime.
  • Canadian jobs: Saab has proposed 72 Gripen E/F fighters plus 6 GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, with the GlobalEye built on Canada's own Bombardier Global 6000/6500 platform. Saab projects 12,600 direct and indirect Canadian jobs. I have not seen a comparable jobs analysis published for the F-35 procurement.
  • Hardware and software sovereignty: The F-35 is subject to U.S. ITAR export control, meaning Canada cannot independently modify, upgrade, or adapt its own aircraft without U.S. government approval — in perpetuity. The Gripen E uses an open architecture that Canada could upgrade independently. With the Gripen, Canada controls its own hardware and software upgrades. With the F-35, the United States Government does.
  • Operational data security: The F-35's ODIN logistics system transmits Canadian aircraft data to Lockheed Martin and U.S. government infrastructure. Saab has offered to host all Canadian mission and maintenance data in a sovereign Canadian data centre in Montreal. This is a significant difference in strategic autonomy.
  • Arctic readiness: The Gripen E can operate from highways and short airstrips without specialized infrastructure. The F-35 requires prepared bases and pressurized hangars for RAM coating maintenance — facilities that do not exist in Canada's Arctic and would require billions in additional investment.
  • Allied reconsideration: Switzerland is cutting its F-35 order after a CHF 1.3 billion cost overrun. Portugal has halted its program entirely. NPR has reported that NATO allies are reassessing U.S. platform dependency following recent changes in American foreign policy. Canada should understand why our allies are reconsidering before finalizing any irreversible commitment.

I respectfully ask you to provide written answers to the following specific questions:

  1. What is the current total lifecycle cost estimate for Canada's F-35 program, and how has it changed since the original announcement?
  2. How many Canadian jobs — direct and indirect — will the Gripen E + GlobalEye package create, compared to the F-35 procurement? Has an independent analysis been commissioned?
  3. Who legally controls software upgrades and hardware modifications to Canada's F-35 aircraft once they are delivered? Does this require U.S. government approval?
  4. Does the F-35 ODIN system transmit Canadian aircraft operational or maintenance data to U.S.-hosted servers? Has this been assessed as a strategic risk?
  5. How will Canada maintain F-35 RAM coatings at Arctic bases, and what is the estimated cost of the specialized infrastructure required?
  6. Has Canada's government formally evaluated Switzerland's and Portugal's reasons for reconsidering their F-35 orders? What were the conclusions?
  7. Has the Government considered a mixed-fleet approach — using the 16 committed F-35s for high-end missions while deploying Gripen E for Arctic sovereignty and day-to-day NORAD patrol at a fraction of the operating cost?

I understand that defence procurement is complex and involves alliance commitments, security considerations, and industrial policy. I am not asking you to cancel any program. I am asking for transparency and for you to demonstrate that these legitimate questions have been properly evaluated.

Canada deserves a fighter fleet that we can afford to fly, can maintain in the Arctic, and over which we exercise genuine sovereignty. I ask that you advocate for a rigorous, public, and transparent evaluation before any final fleet commitment is made.

I respectfully request a written reply at your earliest convenience. As your constituent, I look forward to hearing your position on this important matter.

Respectfully,

[Your Full Name]
[Street Address, City, Province, Postal Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number — optional]
Tip: MPs are legally obligated to respond to constituent correspondence. Asking explicitly for a written reply — as this letter does — increases the chance of receiving one. Keep a copy of your sent email for reference.
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Context — You Are Not Alone

Countries That Are Reconsidering the F-35

Canada is not the only country asking hard questions about the F-35. Across NATO, allies are weighing the cost, the sovereignty trade-offs, and the risk of over-dependence on a single U.S.-controlled platform.

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Switzerland — Cutting Its Order
A CHF 1.3 billion cost overrun pushed Switzerland's F-35 program beyond its voter-approved budget cap. Switzerland is now purchasing fewer jets than originally planned. December 2025.[7]
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Portugal — Program Halted
Portugal halted its C$6B F-35 program entirely, citing non-transparent cost overruns and concerns about strategic dependence on U.S. controlled systems. March 2025.[8]
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Belgium — Political Pressure Growing
Belgium signed its F-35 contract but faces growing parliamentary opposition as costs rise and U.S. foreign policy unpredictability increases concerns about dependency.[6]
🇩🇪
Germany — Nuclear Role Questioned
Germany chose the F-35 for NATO nuclear sharing but analysts now question whether a U.S. veto over German nuclear deployment options is a strategic liability under current U.S. political conditions.[6]
🇳🇴
Norway — Rising Sustainment Costs
Norway was an early F-35 adopter but has been vocal about sustainment cost pressures that are crowding out other defence priorities. Norway's experience is a preview of what Canada faces.[4]
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Sweden — Confident in Gripen
Sweden, a NATO member since 2024, is expanding its Gripen E fleet and has explicitly stated that sovereign platform control is a strategic advantage. Sweden offers Canada the same terms.[3]
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Economic Impact

Jobs Comparison: Gripen + GlobalEye vs F-35

One of the most important unanswered questions in Canada's fighter procurement is the jobs comparison. The Government has not published an independent, apples-to-apples analysis of what each option actually creates in Canada.

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Gripen E + GlobalEye Package
Saab projects 12,600 direct and indirect Canadian jobs from its proposal:
  • Canadian final assembly of Gripen E
  • GlobalEye built on Bombardier Global 6000/6500
  • Sovereign data centre in Montreal
  • Technology transfer and MRO facilities
  • Long-term maintenance and upgrade contracts
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F-35 Supply Chain Participation
Canada participates in the F-35 global supply chain — some Canadian companies make parts — but:
  • No final assembly in Canada
  • No sovereign data or software control
  • No GlobalEye equivalent on a Canadian platform
  • Supply chain jobs are not guaranteed or protected
  • Independent jobs analysis has not been published
The unanswered question: How many total Canadian jobs — in manufacturing, maintenance, upgrades, and operations — will the Gripen E + GlobalEye package create compared to the F-35? This is what your letter asks your MP to answer in writing.
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Strategic Autonomy

Canada Controls the Gripen. The U.S. Controls the F-35.

This is the sovereignty argument in plain language. When Canada buys the Gripen, it purchases a platform it can independently operate, modify, and upgrade. When Canada buys the F-35, it enters a permanent dependency relationship with the United States government — one that cannot be exited without scrapping the fleet.

1
F-35: Every Upgrade Needs U.S. Permission

ITAR law requires U.S. export approval for every F-35 software update, new weapon integration, and hardware modification. Canada cannot install a Canadian-developed missile, sensor, or communications system without going through the U.S. export control process — regardless of the security urgency.[5]

2
F-35: Operational Data Flows to U.S. Servers

ODIN (Operational Data Integrated Network) collects and transmits F-35 maintenance, logistics, and operational data to Lockheed Martin and U.S. government-hosted infrastructure. Canada cannot opt out — this is how the aircraft's support architecture is designed.[5]

3
Gripen E: Open Architecture, Canadian Control

The Gripen E's open software architecture allows Canada to independently integrate weapons, sensors, and mission systems under a sovereign licence. Canada owns its software, can upgrade it independently, and is not subject to a foreign government's approval process for changes to its own air force.[3]

4
Gripen E: All Data Stays in Canada

Saab has proposed a sovereign Canadian data centre in Montreal to host all operational and maintenance data for Canada's fleet. Unlike ODIN, data would be governed by Canadian law and remain under Canadian control — permanently.[3]

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Citations

Sources

  1. 1
    19FortyFive — Canada's F-35 Debate Seems Paralyzed — $30 Billion Question. March 2026. Cost rise from C$19B (2023) to C$30B+ documented.
  2. 2
    National Defense Magazine — F-35 Program Still Plagued by Cost Overruns, Delivery Delays — GAO. September 2025. US$36,000+ cost per flight hour confirmed by U.S. Government Accountability Office.
  3. 3
    19FortyFive — Gripen Looks Great on Paper — 12,600 Canadian Jobs, Sovereign Data Centre. April 2026. Saab proposal details including Montreal data centre and Bombardier GlobalEye.
  4. 4
    FlyAJetFighter.com — The F-35 Facing Russian and Chinese VHF Radars. Technical analysis of stealth limitations and Gripen E operating cost figures.
  5. 5
    Simple Flying — Canada Is Secretly Paying For F-35 Parts While Threatening to Buy Gripen. ODIN data architecture and ITAR sovereignty dependency documented.
  6. 6
    NPR — Trump's Handling of Ukraine and Tariffs Has NATO Rethinking the F-35. March 2025. Belgium, Germany, and NATO-wide political reassessment of U.S. platform dependency.
  7. 7
    The Defense Post — Cost Overruns Push Swiss to Buy Fewer F-35s. December 2025. CHF 1.3B overrun details and Swiss parliamentary response.
  8. 8
    Reason.com — Allies Cancel Orders of F-35s, the Fighter Jets That Will Cost $2 Trillion. Portugal program halt and wider allied cancellations documented.

⚖️ Important Disclaimer

This page was written by Ted Lee, a Canadian private citizen and financial literacy commentator, for educational and public interest purposes. It is not affiliated with Saab, Lockheed Martin, the Canadian Department of National Defence, or any government body.

Opinion and advocacy: This page presents arguments in favour of reconsidering or supplementing the F-35 procurement. It is the author's opinion, based on publicly available information. Readers are encouraged to also review official DND communications, Lockheed Martin's materials, and pro-F-35 arguments to form a balanced view.

Letter template: The letter template provided on this page is a suggested starting point. You are free to modify, personalize, or rewrite it in your own words. The author takes no responsibility for how the letter is used or what response, if any, it receives.

Cost figures: All cost figures are derived from public sources including the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and published journalism. Defence procurement costs change frequently. Verify all figures against current official sources before relying on them.

Jobs figures: The 12,600 Canadian jobs figure is sourced from Saab's own proposal and promotional materials. It has not been independently verified by the author. Actual job creation will depend on final contract terms if any contract is signed.

No financial or defence advice: Nothing on this page constitutes investment, financial, or defence procurement advice. Ted Lee is not a licensed financial adviser, defence analyst, or procurement specialist.

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