The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)

[Baz]

You missed Lockheed is combat systems integrator for River Class including as you mentioned Aegis. RQ9B (Hellfires) , C130J and I’m sure other kit. Being the largest defence contractor in the world, Lochmart is bound to involved some of our contracts.

Sikorsky is owned by LM as well, although it isn't clear if they are still losing money on the Cyclones...

 

[Czech_pivo]

Sikorsky is owned by LM as well, although it isn't clear if they are still losing money on the Cyclones...

Well if the RUMINT is correct that we are ditching the Cyclones and most likely buying 28-36 Seahawks, there's a another 8-10 billion for LM.

 

[Nvlgzr]

It's almost like retired RCAF officials are some of the only people who can speak out on behalf of the RCAF for the F-35 without the potential of punishment for interference? If you want to call people shills, the amount of high ranking former Canadian officers hired by the US MIC basically precludes any official from speaking on the topic at all.

LtGen Jamie Speiser-Blanchet has publically supported a 5th gen airforce. I think much of ‘entertaining’ Gripen is theatre to pressure Trump on trade. Personally, if the commander says she needs 5th gen, I would support her. I just don’t think either aircraft fully delivers on our needs. IMHO, Gripen obviously lacks the range and load capacity but is easily serviceable. Panther is the opposite. Panther has stealth which could be valuable on missions flying out of Europe but is probably of little value in NORAD. I also believe we need to increase the number of squadrons and locate such Europe. Closing Baden was probably a mistake.

I’m not convinced Tom Lawson and Billie Flynnn are speaking on behalf of RCAF. Speaking on behalf of Lockheed, 100%. They were paid employees of Lockheed and if successful in their lobbying will no doubt be rewarded in the future.

 

[Nvlgzr]

thick on Canadian bacon.

I keep telling my Muslim /Jewish friends/neighbours, they haven’t lived until they have eaten Canadian bacon. Yum! Should be at the top of the food triangle.

 

[Quirky]

IMHO, Gripen obviously lacks the range and load capacity but is easily serviceable.

Is there any data to support this claim, on a paper airplane? What makes the Gripen easier, cheaper, quicker, to turn than the F-35?

 

[Kirkhill]

Saab, Boeing and BAE teaming up on the Red Hawk as RAF's Fighter Lead In Trainer to replace the Hawk.

Pardon Our Interruption

T-7 Arrives At Edwards, USAF Eyeing Light Fighter Version

Formal T-7 flight testing is now set to begin and talk about an F-7 fighter version could have broader ramifications for the Air Force.

www.twz.com

I find it interesting that since being shut out of the US F35 competition Boeing seems to have been keener than LM to team up with foreigners.

Aussie Ghost Bat CCA
Swedish GLSDB for the MRLS
Swedish Red Hawk...

Or maybe it is just me.

 

[MilEME09]

Saab can match American-made F-35s to fulfil Canadian needs: Swedish deputy prime minister

Saab can match American-made F-35s to fulfil Canadian needs: Swedish deputy prime minister

Sweden’s deputy prime minister says Saab is prepared to fill any gap in Canada’s capability needs if the federal government decides to deviate from its American Lockheed Martin deal and purchase fighter jets from several companies.

www.ctvnews.ca

Sweden going all in here

 

[Czech_pivo]

Saab can match American-made F-35s to fulfil Canadian needs: Swedish deputy prime minister

Saab can match American-made F-35s to fulfil Canadian needs: Swedish deputy prime minister

Sweden’s deputy prime minister says Saab is prepared to fill any gap in Canada’s capability needs if the federal government decides to deviate from its American Lockheed Martin deal and purchase fighter jets from several companies.

www.ctvnews.ca

Sweden going all in here

If it sounds to good to be true -

 

[suffolkowner]

I have said it before, reinvent the Skyraider if you want to kill drones

Skyraider 2?

L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MilEME09]

Clearly there is only one way to settle this F35 vs Gripen. 5 game hockey series, USA vs Sweden, winner gets the deal

 

[QV]

The fact all these european countries, Australia, SK, etc are buying the F35 when they could get anything they wanted speaks loudly. Canada still “reviewing” this is peak idiocy and tells you this government isn’t serious about actual capability.

 

[Rainbow1910]

Saab can match American-made F-35s to fulfil Canadian needs: Swedish deputy prime minister

Saab can match American-made F-35s to fulfil Canadian needs: Swedish deputy prime minister

Sweden’s deputy prime minister says Saab is prepared to fill any gap in Canada’s capability needs if the federal government decides to deviate from its American Lockheed Martin deal and purchase fighter jets from several companies.

www.ctvnews.ca

Sweden going all in here

Sweden’s deputy prime minister says Saab is prepared to fill any gap in Canada’s capability needs if the federal government decides to deviate from its American Lockheed Martin deal and purchase fighter jets from several companies.

“Saab would be the ones that would have to answer for details of that sort,” Ebba Busch said in an exclusive interview on CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Tuesday. “But the way that we have looked into this, together with our Canadian counterparts, we think that we can match what is needed for the Canadian interests.”

When asked by Kapelos whether Saab could fill the gap if Canada doesn’t go forward with the remaining 72 jets made by Lockheed Martin, Busch said: “The short answer is yes.”

So now Sweden is going to fill any gaps in the RCAF if we walk away/cut back the F-35 procurement? With what exactly? Sure as hell not with the Gripen E, given how Sweden just recently took delivery of their first aircraft, Brazil's orders have been delayed off their original schedule and there is other customers like Colombia and Thailand who are ahead of us on the order book hypothetically. Production of the E model is slow and backlogged, unless Saab is going to send us their own slowly delivering stock or try to pry additional airframes out of Brazil? Is the plan to shuffle off Sweden's existing Gripen C/D fleet off onto the RCAF to hold us over until we set up domestic production? Saddle us with old updated airframes to replace our ancient updated airframes?

The fact that Saab and Sweden is just blatantly pitching nonsense like this without the media calling them out is laughable. It's the classic Saab media blitz with a questionable plan hiding behind the glossy brochure. This unsolicited bid gets more and more questionable as time goes on, I hope nobody in positions of power is actually falling for this farce upon even a cursory glance.

 

[MilEME09]

So now Sweden is going to fill any gaps in the RCAF if we walk away/cut back the F-35 procurement? With what exactly? Sure as hell not with the Gripen E, given how Sweden just recently took delivery of their first aircraft, Brazil's orders have been delayed off their original schedule and there is other customers like Colombia and Thailand who are ahead of us on the order book hypothetically. Production of the E model is slow and backlogged, unless Saab is going to send us their own slowly delivering stock or try to pry additional airframes out of Brazil? Is the plan to shuffle off Sweden's existing Gripen C/D fleet off onto the RCAF to hold us over until we set up domestic production? Saddle us with old updated airframes to replace our ancient updated airframes?

The fact that Saab and Sweden is just blatantly pitching nonsense like this without the media calling them out is laughable. It's the classic Saab media blitz with a questionable plan hiding behind the glossy brochure. This unsolicited bid gets more and more questionable as time goes on, I hope nobody in positions of power is actually falling for this farce upon even a cursory glance.

They dont strike me as the type to not have a plan, I wouldn't be surprised if the loaned us the first few off the line until domestic production starts

 

[Czech_pivo]

So now Sweden is going to fill any gaps in the RCAF if we walk away/cut back the F-35 procurement? With what exactly? Sure as hell not with the Gripen E, given how Sweden just recently took delivery of their first aircraft, Brazil's orders have been delayed off their original schedule and there is other customers like Colombia and Thailand who are ahead of us on the order book hypothetically. Production of the E model is slow and backlogged, unless Saab is going to send us their own slowly delivering stock or try to pry additional airframes out of Brazil? Is the plan to shuffle off Sweden's existing Gripen C/D fleet off onto the RCAF to hold us over until we set up domestic production? Saddle us with old updated airframes to replace our ancient updated airframes?

The fact that Saab and Sweden is just blatantly pitching nonsense like this without the media calling them out is laughable. It's the classic Saab media blitz with a questionable plan hiding behind the glossy brochure. This unsolicited bid gets more and more questionable as time goes on, I hope nobody in positions of power is actually falling for this farce upon even a cursory glance.

Time will tell.

 

[dapaterson]

Clearly there is only one way to settle this F35 vs Gripen. 5 game hockey series, USA vs Sweden, winner gets the deal

Round robin for the Twin Otter with a shotgun (Canada's entry).

 

[Rainbow1910]

They dont strike me as the type to not have a plan, I wouldn't be surprised if the loaned us the first few off the line until domestic production starts

Considering the Swedish airforce is already behind on their own acquisitions with multiple customers in the pipeline and a potential near decade long wait before Canada is ready to deliver its own aircraft, that strategy comes off as questionable for all parties involved here.

 

[MilEME09]

Considering the Swedish airforce is already behind on their own acquisitions with multiple customers in the pipeline and a potential near decade long wait before Canada is ready to deliver its own aircraft, that strategy comes off as questionable for all parties involved here.

We said the same thing about the NSPS originally but Sweden also has a strategic industry to preserve. They have avested interest in slowing down till now.

 

[YZT580]

Skyraider 2?

L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If it has anywhere near the durability of the original it will do by me. The original Air Tractor is a great airplane

 

[Maxman1]

The fact all these european countries, Australia, SK, etc are buying the F35 when they could get anything they wanted speaks loudly. Canada still “reviewing” this is peak idiocy and tells you this government isn’t serious about actual capability.

And the fact other Scandinavian countries picked the F-35 over the Gripen.

 

[Nvlgzr]

Is there any data to support this claim, on a paper airplane? What makes the Gripen easier, cheaper, quicker, to turn than the F-35?

F35 requires an environmentally controlled hanger and specialty tooling/techniques to maintain the stealth surfaces. Someone previously commented on this blog that our hangers won’t be ready in time for our aircraft. The woes of ALIS are comparable to Phoenix. Can’t wait for ODIN. In many ways F35 is still in development to address original requirements not yet met. There have been concerns raised about the shortfall of parts and who gets priority.

Gripen E/F is not a paper aircraft, the Swedes have begun deliveries. E/F is an improved C/D whichhas been around for sometime. SAABs big selling point has been to be able to turn an aircraft around in minutes. SAABs primary customer is Sweden and Sweden being a previously non NATO country unlike Canada can’t afford to FAFO . They don’t have all the time in the world like Canada.

As I said I don’t believe either fully suits our needs. Now I’m going to admit my bias is towards the F15 Advanced Eagle and never understood why Boeing didn’t offer it. The reality is we are getting the F35. And not just 16. Some of those 16 will stay in the US permanently. I doubt the remainder will even meet 410’s needs.