Canada is modernizing its military aviation infrastructure to receive the new F-35 fighter jets, the Canadian government reports.

In order to implement this plan, Canada will spend 7.3 billion Canadian dollars (about $5.6 billion).

With these funds, new facilities for fighter aircraft will be built and modernized.

Thus, the Canadian Air Force is preparing to receive the latest American-made F-35 fighter jets.

“The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a 7.3 billion Canadian dollars project to upgrade and build new fighter infrastructure to support the arrival of our new fleet of F-35 fighter jets,” the government said in a statement.

It is also noted that one of the elements of the early warning system will appear in southern Canada, which will complement the work of future over-the-horizon radars based in the Arctic.

“These Canadian systems will complement planned U.S. systems, in order to significantly expand situational awareness of potential threats to our continent,” the Canadian government emphasized.

In January 2023, the Canadian Ministry of National Defense announced the signing of an agreement for the purchase of 88 F-35A fighters with the American Lockheed Martin corporation.

The value of the deal is approximately $14.2 billion.

The first deliveries of four F-35s are expected to be made in 2026, and full operational capability of the new fighters is expected between 2032 and 2034.

The first few boards will be based in the US while the Canadian military prepares the infrastructure for them. While this process continues, Canadian pilots and technicians will train at US bases. Overall, the F-35s are not expected to arrive in Canada until 2029 at the earliest.