Eight fighters, designated CF-35A in Canadian service, are scheduled to be based at Luke. The first aircraft are expected to arrive in Canada in 2028.
“The RCAF received its first two CF35As yesterday at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The future of air and space power is built on more than equipment alone,” the air force said in a social media statement.
Canada approved the government-to-government acquisition agreement in January 2023. The first Canadian F-35 made its maiden flight in Texas on September 23.
The fleet is scheduled to reach initial operational capability by the end of 2030 and full operational readiness by the end of 2034. Canada’s CF-18A/B Hornets are expected to reach the end of their service lives in the mid-2030s.
“We are developing the skilled people, integrated capabilities, and modern tools we need to meet future challenges at home and abroad,” the RCAF said. The aircraft based at Luke will support the training needed to bring the new fleet into service.
Canada also plans to complement the fighters with six Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft. A production contract could be signed by the end of the year, according to the accompanying report.
