Airbus Pulls out of Fighter Jet Competition Following Complaints

This March 6, 2018, photo shows a logo of Airbus group is displayed in front of its headquarters in Toulouse, western France. European aerospace giant Airbus is pulling out of the high-stakes competition to build Canada's next fighter jet following complaints about the competition. Fred Scheiber/AP/The Canadian Press

OTTAWA—Canada’s multibillion-dollar effort to buy new fighter jets has taken another surprise turn with European aerospace giant Airbus announcing it has withdrawn from the high-stakes competition.

Airbus Defence and Space, in partnership with the British government, was one of four companies expected to bid on the $19-billion contract to build 88 new fighter jets. They’re to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s aging CF-18s.