Canada Unveils F-35 Lightning II Base

Canada has selected Canadian Forces Base Bagotville and Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake to house 65 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

Delivery of the F-35 Lightning II jets is expected to begin in 2016.

Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay said that 24 operational aircraft would be based at each of the wings to maintain a 50-50 balance between the fighter squadrons.

The remaining F-35s will be attached to a training squadron at a location to be announced in the future.

Chief of air staff Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps said that with the arrival of the F-35, both fighter wings would be well equipped to be at the forefront of fighter operations to 2050 and beyond.