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As the Pentagon prepares for Canada’s withdrawal from the F-35 jet program, lawmakers in Washington are raising concerns that the U.S. too will have to cut its numbers of stealth fighters because of increasing costs.

Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau has promised to withdraw Canada from the F-35 program, saying it has become too costly. When that will happen is still unclear, as the Liberals won’t unveil the cabinet until Nov. 4.

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A Liberal government would hold a competition to replace the current fleet of CF-18s and select a cheaper alternative to the F-35.

Canada’s withdrawal from the program will see the cost of the F-35 go up between 0.7 per cent and one per cent for other countries – or about US$1 million per plane, said Lt.-Gen. Chris Bogdan, head of the F-35 Joint Program Office.

The Conservatives committed in 2010 to buy 65 of the aircraft but put that on hold because of the increased costs of the jet and allegations that the procurement process was not properly handled.