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MIRABEL, Quebec, April 21, 2026 — MAS, an L3Harris Technologies company, and Lockheed Martin have outlined a new collaboration framework to establish an F-35 Air Vehicle Depot in Canada, creating a structure for information sharing and joint oversight.
The initiative builds on Canada’s selection of MAS as a strategic sustainment partner and sets up a joint executive steering committee to define depot capabilities, workforce training programs and sustainment solutions. The collaboration is intended to expand in-country control over aircraft upkeep while creating high-skilled jobs.
“Depot-level sustainment means Canada’s aerospace workforce will perform the same advanced maintenance currently done in only a handful of locations worldwide,” said Jason Lambert, President, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, L3Harris. “Our 40-year fighter sustainment heritage, combined with Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation expertise, makes this the right partnership at the right time.”
The depot is expected to anchor an industrial framework of about 30 Canadian suppliers, with contributions of $3.2 million per jet across a global fleet of more than 1,325 F-35s.
“This collaboration delivers on Canada’s requirement to develop in-country sustainment capability and to operate and maintain the Canadian F-35 fleet independently,” said Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President and General Manager, F‑35 Program, Lockheed Martin. “With Lockheed Martin’s experience establishing sustainment capabilities around the world, our joint effort with MAS is expected to deliver fleet readiness, air superiority and increased economic benefits.”
The F-35 serves as the backbone of allied air power, with 20 nations committed to purchase more than 3,500 aircraft. L3Harris, one of Canada’s largest defence and security companies, has supported the nation’s aerospace and defence sectors for more than six decades.
The partnership was formalized in a signing by MAS General Manager Ugo Paniconi and F-35 Customer Programs Vice President Marshall Shepard, with ISR President Jason Lambert and F-35 Lightning II Program Vice President and General Manager Chauncey McIntosh also present.
