Liberals expected to launch negotiations to buy F-35 fighter jets

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OTTAWA — The Liberal authorities is predicted to announce right this moment that it’s going to enter into ultimate negotiations on buying the F-35 fighter jet.

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Authorities and business sources have advised The Canadian Press the negotiations with producer Lockheed Martin will likely be introduced at a information convention this afternoon.

The sources spoke on the situation they not be named as a result of they weren’t approved to remark publicly.

Whereas this doesn’t imply a deal to buy the stealth fighter is formally executed, it does imply Canada is on the verge of lastly selecting a alternative for its growing older CF-18s.

Ought to negotiations fall by, the federal government retains the choice to enter into talks with Saab, whose Gripen fighter got here second to the F-35 within the competitors.

Canada is planning to purchase 88 new fighter jets to exchange its CF-18s, with the federal government having budgeted as much as $19 billion for the acquisition.

The earlier Conservative authorities introduced a plan to purchase 65 F-35s greater than a decade in the past, however backed off the deal amid controversy over the plane’s value and unproven observe report.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised in the course of the 2015 federal election marketing campaign to not purchase the F-35, however later allowed the stealth fighter to compete alongside different designs.