F-35 beat Gripen fighter jet 'by a mile' in 2021 Defence Department competition

Data obtained by Radio-Canada shows Lockheed Martin jet was clear winner

Daniel Leblanc · CBC News · Posted: Nov 26, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 10 hours ago

https://i.cbc.ca/ais/71e23ee7-2705-462f-904f-22f5a8b0c737,1764105311717/full/max/0/default.jpg
The F-35 fighter jet finished far ahead of its Swedish rival, the Gripen, during a competition held by the Department of National Defence in 2021. (Lockheed Martin)

The American-built F-35 fighter jet dominated its Swedish rival Gripen in terms of technical and military capabilities during a competition held by the Defence Department in 2021. ... The competition focused on each fighter jet's capabilities in defending the North American continent and the likelihood of success in various missions against modern military forces.

The F-35 got a score of 95 per cent on military capabilities, with a total of 57.1 points out of 60. ... By contrast, the Gripen-E finished with a score of 33 per cent, netting 19.8 points out of 60, according to the Department of National Defence (DND) ranking obtained by Radio-Canada. ... The gap is particularly significant in scoring for “mission performance” and ability to upgrade the aircraft over its life cycle.

https://i.cbc.ca/ais/9c93bba4-93b2-41bd-9d67-13a6b2fdd86b,1764104965224/full/max/0/default.jpg
The Defence Department would not comment about the scoring of the 2021 competition illustrated in this graphic, only saying its review of the F-35 purchase was ongoing. (Obtained by Radio-Canada)

Asked to comment on the results of the competition, DND said the review of the F-35 purchase is ongoing. ... Several experts, as well as representatives from the two companies in the running, said they had never seen the precise figures before now.

The stark difference between the two aircraft might help explain the Trudeau government’s decision to renege on its 2015 electoral promise not to proceed with the F-35 purchase, said David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. ... "The capability assessment here says that there is a clear-cut winner, no contest, no ambiguity,” said Perry, whose institute receives sponsorship support from defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Saab. ... “I'd expected that [the F-35] was going to be a clear winner, but this is a winner by a mile.”

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David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the capability assessment of the two aircraft shows a clear-cut winner. (Radio-Canada)

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Clarifications
• This story has been updated to disclose that the Canadian Global Affairs Institute receives sponsorship funding from defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Saab.
Nov 28, 2025 4:41 PM EST

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel LeLeblanc
Reporter

Daniel Leblanc is a reporter with more than 20 years experience in investigative journalism and federal politics. He is a past winner of the Michener Award, the Charles Lynch Award and three National Newspaper Awards.