17
May
National Times Bureau, May 17, 2025: Canada's multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase 88 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin comes with a controversial twist—spare parts for the aircraft will remain the property of the United States until they are physically installed on Canadian planes. This clause is not unique to Canada; it's part of the F-35 program's global logistics model. But in Canada's case, it has sparked concerns over military autonomy and operational flexibility.The arrangement means spare parts are pooled and managed globally by the U.S. Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney. More than 50 storage hubs worldwide,…