Canada’s First CF-35A Lightning II Takes Flight for the First Time

A CF-35A Lightning II fighter jet, intended for the Royal Canadian Air Force, has made its maiden flight.

The F-35 Lightning II’s press service reported this on X.

The aircraft, bearing serial number AR-1, took off on September 23, 2026, from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas, where Lockheed Martin’s production facility is located.

Canadian identification markings have already been applied to the fighter jet. The air intakes feature the bilingual RCAF–ARC designation, and the tail bears a low-visibility Canadian flag.

As part of the Canadian Air Force, the aircraft will be designated CF-35A, marking the first use of a two-digit designation for a Canadian aircraft since the introduction of the new designation format in the 1960s.

Canada’s CF-35As are set to replace the CF-188 Hornet fleet, which will continue to carry out missions for NORAD and NATO until its retirement in 2032.

Canada in the F-35 Program

Canada joined the F-35 program in 2002 as a Tier 3 partner, but did not make the final decision to select the F-35A to replace its CF-188 Hornet fighters until 2022. In January 2023, the Canadian government signed an agreement to purchase 88 aircraft.

Officially, the entire fleet was expected to achieve full operational capability by 2032–2034. The F-35A was selected over Sweden’s Saab Gripen E to replace the aging CF-188 Hornet.

The situation changed after Donald Trump returned to power and a trade war began. On March 14, 2025, just days after taking office as prime minister, Mark Carney ordered a review of the decision to purchase 88 F-35As.

In May 2026, Canada’s Department of National Defence said that the review was ongoing and a final decision would be announced later. At the same time, preparations to receive the F-35 are continuing.

Canada initially approved the purchase of the first batch of 16 aircraft. The first eight F-35As are expected to arrive at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, in 2026–2027 for Canadian pilot training, while the first aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Canada in 2028.

The main alternative to the F-35 remains Saab’s Gripen fighter proposal. A mixed fleet combining the F-35 and Gripen E is also being considered.

The first Canadian F-35As are expected to be delivered this year, while the future of the entire program depends on the Canadian government’s decision following its review.