The minister of national defence says he’s taking the recent findings of Canada’s Auditor General on Canada’s future fighter jet capability very seriously.
AG Karen Hogan found that overall cost estimates for the replacement of Canada’s CF-18 fighter jet fleet nearly doubled since government finalized the arrangement in 2022.
CF-18 Hornet (via Canadian Air Force)
She also found that the Future Fighter Capability project was facing delays in building key infrastructure to support the aircraft.
Construction of two new fighter squadron facilities is not expected to be completed until 2031, three years behind schedule.
Minister David McGuinty says the federal government is taking steps to address the AG’s recommendations including an updated risk management plan, the updating and refinement of a master implementation plan to manage project activities, and the commitment that Ottawa will review cost estimates on an annual basis, or more frequently should significant issues be identified.
