Ottawa | Canada’s purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets will cost far more than projected, and the country faces a potential shortage of qualified pilots to fly them, a government audit has found.
The overall cost estimate of the order has jumped to $C27.7 billion ($31.1 billion), almost 50 per cent more than originally anticipated, Canadian auditor general Karen Hogan said in a report. There will be at least $C5.5 billion in additional costs for infrastructure upgrades and advanced weapons, she said.
