Row over Canada F-35 fighter jet order

[Guest guest]

My question: Why in't anyone in the US complaining about the $300 billion that

is being spent on these planes?

Administrator

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10667633

16 July 2010 Last updated at 12:38 ET

Row over Canada F-35 fighter jet order

Canada's purchase of 65 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets for 9bn Canadian

dollars ($8.5bn; £5.6bn) is proving controversial.

The contract with US company Lockheed was signed without a competitive

bidding process, drawing fire from Canada's opposition party.

Liberal leader Ignatieff said, if elected, his government would put a

hold on the contract.

The jets will replace Canada's ageing fleet of CF-18s.

" At a time when the Conservatives are also signalling significant cuts to

Veterans Affairs, a $16bn [Canadian dollars] sole-sourced contract, agreed to

without transparency, can't be allowed to proceed, " Mr Ignatieff said in a

statement.

But Prime Minister Harper's government defended the purchase at a press

conference, where a prototype of the plane was unveiled.

" We need to ensure our fighter aircraft fleet remains the best in the world to

meet the threats of the 21st Century, " defence minister MacKay said.

Maintenance of the planes for 20 years is also included in the contract, but

that cost has not yet been disclosed.

Media reports estimate that maintenance could bring the total cost to Canadian

$16bn.

The planes will be the fifth generation of Joint Strike Fighters. Canada has

worked with the US on the development of these fighter planes for over a decade.