From a strictly financial point of view, we'd be paying $290 million for each F-18. This is six times as much as the US Navy is paying which is  $48.3 million each based on a contract signed September 13th. Granted, the Canadian price includes spare parts. It is questionable, however, that parts would cost five times as much as the aircraft themselves. That said, if this is the correct ratio for the cost of maintaining an aircraft, that would mean the F-35 at $85 million per unit would really cost $510 million each. Perhaps we should reconsider our options.

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