Spending watchdog Sheila Fraser warns that the Harper government's estimated $16-billion plan to buy new fighter jets carries significant risk of delays or cost increases - problems her latest audit finds also plagued Defence Department helicopter purchases.

"The F-35s ... I would hope that no one is assessing that as low risk," the Auditor-General said of Canada's controversial fighter jet project as she answered questions on a fall report that sharply criticized Defence's procurement behaviour.

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