It was a clear mismatch: Boeing’s “extensive market research” into potential potential customers to sell the Super Hornet fighter jets failed to satisfy the criteria of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for a new fighter jet fleet.
But the U.S. defense giant stood firm, saying the resale of the French-built Super Hornet would create thousands of American jobs. Following months of trade action launched in 2017, and escalated with Canada’s decision last December to bar the sale of Boeing’s C-17 military cargo aircraft, this caused the companies to hold talks aimed at reaching a mutual solution.
When Boeing told Canada it would “re-review” its bid, Canada closed the door on future negotiations. On Wednesday, Boeing and Canada announced they had reached a “consensus” to move ahead with the purchase of Super Hornets. But on Thursday, Canada confirmed that Boeing was rejected on “value, technical, and workability” grounds.
Trudeau on Thursday said that Canada would acquire the jets from Australia, where the U.S. Air Force had some recently retired Hornet fighter jets that would be “well-suited to the Canadian operating environment.”