Canada commits up to $500 million to the development of CF-18 replacement MURRAY BREWSTER OTTAWA (CP) - Despite the misgivings of some allies, the federal government is spending an additional half-billion dollars for the final development of the Joint Strike Fighter, a stealth jet meant to replace Canada's aging CF-18s.
A memorandum of understanding was signed with little fanfare this week between the Pentagon and the Canadian Defence Department, even as an Australian parliamentary report questioned the international program.
Deputy Defence Minister Ward Elcock signed on behalf of Canada, committing the federal government to continue funding research and production of the advanced warplane.
The agreement also spells out Ottawa's intention to purchase as many as 80 of the single-seat, single-engine F-35 aircraft when the CF-18s, recently given life extensions, are retired in 2017.
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