Canadian PM orders review of F-35 fighter purchase from U.S.: media

OTTAWA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked for a review of Canada's plan to purchase a fleet of F-35 fighter jets from the United States, local media reported Saturday.

The deal with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government is for 88 planes at a cost of about 85 million U.S. dollars each.

According to the CTV News report, a spokesperson for Defense Minister Bill Blair said Carney has asked Blair to look into whether the F-35 contract is the best investment for Canada, or if there are better options.

"We need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces," the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Amid a trade war with the United States and threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Canada, Carney was sworn in as the 24th Canadian prime minister and appointed a new cabinet on Friday. ■