As the trade war between US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Carney rages on, calls are growing for Canada to abandon a deal to buy 88 US-made F-35 stealth-fighters.

The F-35 deal took years to agree, and is worth tens of billions of dollars. But what's at stake here is much more than just money. Canada needs to replace its aging CF-18 fleet while strengthening its defense of the Arctic and its role in NORAD. 

The Royal Canadian Air Force argues that the F-35 is the best aircraft for confronting advanced threats from Russia and China. But Sweden's cheaper Saab Gripen has emerged as a potential alternative.