Canada received the first two CF-35A fighter jets in the US The Canadian Air Force Command received the first two CF-35A fighter jets at Lock Air Force Base (Arizona, USA). Canada plans to place the first eight aircraft at this air base in 2026-2027 to train Canadian pilots. The first CF-35A, serial number AR-1, made its first flight on September 23 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The 4th Air Wing is expected to arrive at Canadian Air Force Base in Cold Lake (Alberta) in 2028, with initial operational deployment planned for 2029. The second CF-35A operating base in Canada is planned to be in Agotville 3 in Quebec. Canadian Defense Minister D. McGuinty announced on October 7, 2026, the allocation of almost 4 billion Canadian dollars for fighter jet infrastructure at Cold Lake.

Canada received the first two CF-35A fighter jets in the US The Canadian Air Force Command received the first two CF-35A fighter jets at Lock Air Force Base (Arizona, USA). Canada plans to place the first eight aircraft at this air base in 2026-2027 to train Canadian pilots. The first CF-35A, serial number AR-1, made its first flight on September 23 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The 4th Air Wing is expected to arrive at Canadian Air Force Base in Cold Lake (Alberta) in 2028, with initial operational deployment planned for 2029. The second CF-35A operating base in Canada is planned to be in Agotville 3 in Quebec. Canadian Defense Minister D. McGuinty announced on October 7, 2026, the allocation of almost 4 billion Canadian dollars for fighter jet infrastructure at Cold Lake.