Canada strikes C$19 bln deal for Lockheed's F-35 fighter jetsOTTAWA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Canada finalized a deal to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) on Monday in a C$19 billion ($14.2 billion) project to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft.The F-35 "is the most advanced fighter on the market and it is the right aircraft for our country," Anand told reporters, adding the purchase and maintenance could contribute over C$425 million annually to the Canadian economy and close to 3,300 jobs annually.The F-35 fighter announcement coincides with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to Mexico on Monday for the North American leaders' summit where he will meet U.S. President Joe Biden.The Trudeau government, which was initially against buying F-35s due to costs, held a competitive process to select the planes where Lockheed beat out Sweden's SAAB (SAABb.ST) and Boeing.The "long, very politicized struggle" to purchase the jets does not bode well for future procurement as the country seeks to scale up its arctic defenses, and as North American Treaty Organization allies push Canada to increase its military spending, Saideman said."