Canadian Auditor's Report: Cost Of F-35 Program Is Now $44.8-Billion Over 42 Years

Ottawa ‘Hits Reset’ On F-35s As Official $45.8B Cost Of Jets Revealed -- National Post

The federal government has officially “hit the reset button” on its controversial efforts to replace Canada’s aging fighter-jet fleet, it was confirmed today.

Public works minister Rona Ambrose says the entire process is being reviewed in the face of a long-awaited KPMG report that warns of the soaring cost of the planned purchase of high-tech F-35 stealth fighters.

The Defence Department Wednesday pegged the full cost of Canada buying, owning, replacing and disposing of 65 F-35 stealth fighters at $44.8-billion over 42 years, according to a report tabled in the House of Commons. It’s the first time Canadians have been presented the full price the government can expect to bear all the way from the aircraft’s development through to disposal, and it far surpasses any previous figure made public.

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More News On The Canadian Auditor's Report On The F-35

Fighter jet plan 're-set' as F-35 costs soar -- CBC
Ottawa changes jet plans as audit pegs F-35 costs at $45-billion -- Globe and Mail
Canada to restart search for fighters, may still buy F-35 -- Reuters
F-35 fighter-jet deal would cost $45.8B over 42 years: audit -- CTV News
Canada widens search for fighter jet beyond F-35 -- AFP
Ottawa 'hits reset' on plan for new jet fighters; report warns of soaring costs -- Canadian Press
Canada's contentious F-35 figures in danger of falling off U.S. fiscal cliff -- CTV News
F-35 fighter jets could cost $46B, report says -- Cnews
Canada to make announcement on search for new fighter jet -- Reuters
An F-35 chronology: Canada’s involvement in the stealth fighter program -- Canada.com

My Comment: The Canadian purchase of 65 F-35s is now dead. This is a damning report, and all other countries who may be interested in purchasing the F-35 .... my recommendation is that they should read this auditor's report when it is available to the public in it's entirety. For the U.S. Congress who is responsible for the Pentagon's purse-strings .... this is a heads-up on what is (probably) the real cost of their F-35 program.