OTTAWA — Canada is scrapping a plan to buy 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighter jets amid a deepening dispute with the U.S. aerospace company, three sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. But as relations with Boeing deteriorated, Ottawa slammed the firm for not acting as a trusted partner and began looking at the Australian jets. Two of the sources said Australian military officials had been in Ottawa late last month for talks. One source said that by buying the Australian fleet, Canada would save money as well as avoid the need to train its pilots on a new aircraft or spend money on a new supply chain. Canada is due to officially announce the requirements for its new fighter fleet in early 2019, kicking off an open competition.

Source: National Post December 05, 2017 22:17 UTC