First F-35 Flight
Canada's First F-35 Fighter Jet Successfully Completes Maiden Flight in Texas
Anonymous
Canada’s first F-35A Lightning II, identified as AR-1 and intended to serve as the CF-35A, completed its maiden flight in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 23, 2026. The aircraft is the first produced for Canada’s planned 88-jet fleet, which is intended to replace the aging CF-188 Hornets and strengthen the country’s air-defense capabilities. Canada’s review of the planned fleet remains open, including consideration of operating a mixed fighter fleet, but production and preparations continue under existing agreements. The first eight aircraft are slated to support pilot training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, while the first delivery to Canada is expected in 2028.
Key Points
1
AR-1 flew with an F-35C acting as a safety chase aircraft. Its Canadian markings include bilingual “RCAF–ARC” insignia on the air intakes and a low-visibility Canadian flag on the tail.
2
The Canadian-service designation, CF-35A, is notable because it is the first use of a two-digit designation for a Canadian aircraft since the country introduced its new designation format in the 1960s.
3
Canada joined the F-35 program as a Tier 3 partner in 2002, and selected the F-35A over Sweden’s Saab Gripen E in its competition to replace the CF-188 Hornet.
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The CF-188s are expected to continue carrying out NORAD and NATO missions until their retirement in 2032.
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The F-35’s low observability, advanced sensors and data fusion are intended to make it an airborne information node, sharing targeting and surveillance data with U.S. and allied F-35s to improve situational awareness and response times.
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