OTTAWA — The head of Canada's air force is flying to the defence of the federal government's planned $9-billion purchase of 65 new stealth jetfighters.

Lt.-Gen. Andre Deschamps describes the F-35 Lightning II as an expensive -- but necessary -- part of the country's defence network.

He understands that Canadians are suffering "sticker shock" over the hefty pricetag, but points out the early-1980s purchase of the country's current fleet of CF-18s was almost as expensive in relative terms.

The announcement of the sole-source contract with U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin earlier this summer has generated a lot of political flak for the Conservative government.

Critics are questioning the enormous cost at a time when Ottawa is trying to claw its way out of deficit.

Deschamps made himself available, saying he wanted to correct the record and dispel what he saw as confusion surrounding the purchase.