Retired RCAF general warns Canada lacks staff for two new fighter fleets
Retired lieutenant general Alain Pelletier says the Royal Canadian Air Force does not have enough pilots, technicians or trainers to operate both F-35 and Gripen-E aircraft simultaneously.
Alain Pelletier, a former deputy commander of NORAD, warned that the Royal Canadian Air Force is short of qualified personnel to sustain two separate fighter programs. With the CF-18 slated to retire around 2032-33, Canada has already ordered 16 Lockheed Martin F-35s and is paying for equipment for 14 more, but the total fleet size remains undecided. The government is also evaluating the addition of Saab’s Gripen-E to supplement numbers.
Pelletier said operating both the American F-35 and Swedish Gripen would force the RCAF to transition to two new platforms at a time when it lacks sufficient pilots, maintainers and trainers, leading to “growing pain.” He highlighted the strategic importance of modern fighters for Arctic defence against Russian and Chinese incursions, noting the need for advanced sensor fusion and all-domain awareness. Pelletier will address these issues at the upcoming conference in Toronto.
Why it matters
Canada's ability to defend its Arctic borders may be compromised if it cannot staff two new fighter fleets.
In this story
Related stories
2 in this thread