Canada Buys Joint Strike Missiles for F-35 Fleet, Signaling Continued Commitment to Stealth Fighter
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara that Canada will spend approximately C$800 million ($564 million) to purchase Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs) from Norway's Kongsberg for its planned F-35A fleet. This makes Canada the sixth F-35 operator to select the long-range precision-guided missile, after Norway, Japan, Australia, the United States, and Germany. The JSM is designed to fit inside the F-35's internal weapons bays, allowing the fighter to maintain its stealth profile while carrying a 350-kilometer-range strike weapon capable of hitting both warships and land targets. The acquisition expands the Royal Canadian Air Force's F-35 beyond air defense. However, Canada continues to review its long-term fighter procurement plans, including the possibility of a mixed fleet with Swedish Gripens, and has not confirmed whether it will complete the original purchase of 88 F-35s signed in 2023.
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