Harper says Canada exempt from rising F-35 costs

Harper says Canada exempt from rising F-35 costs

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he has it in writing that Canada will be exempted from the staggering development cost increases associated with the F-35 stealth fighter.

Canada's not responsible for additional R&D costs, which are borne by the US; but Canada does not have a guaranteed price for each F-35.

See the report from the Parliamentary Budget Office for a detailed discussion of the acquisition cost. The price is expected to be highest at first, and to come down as volume increases, with economies of scale.