Subject: Re: Brk- Gold, safe havens, Barrons,
looky here , todays Barrons,

" Canada Questions Big Order for Lockheed Jet Fighters
Canada is questioning its order for 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 jet fighters, adding to the defense contractor’s recent turmoil amid U.S. leadership changes and questions about its technological viability. The jets are equipped with the latest stealth and other technologies.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair has discussed examining alternatives for the Canadian Air Force with new Prime Minister Mark Carney. Of course, Canada is also facing new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and the president’s repeated calls for the nation to become the 51st U.S. state.
Lockheed said it values its continued partnership with the Canadian Air Force. Overall, it has received about 3,500 orders for the fifth-generation F-35 jets, with 1,100 of them in use around the world. The U.S., Russia, and China are the only nations with significant fifth-generation capacity.
Canada could choose fourth-generation jets but the options are dwindling. Boeing plans to end its F-18 Super Hornet production in 2027. Airbus makes the fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon. Saab makes the fourth-generation Gripen, and Dassault Aviation makes the Rafale.
Canada’s potential move comes amid Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sweeping internal review of Pentagon programs and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Musk has questioned the efficacy of F-35s versus drones.
What’s Next: Canada spends less than 2% of its gross domestic product on national defense, falling below guidelines set by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, something that has upset the Trump administration. Blair sees Canada reaching that target between 2027 and 2030.

—Al Root, Adam Clark, and Janet H. Cho