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

[Cloud Cover]

To that point how many senior invisible Officers could be cut to truly free up resources to rebuild the institution?
Serious question as Canada is almost as bad as OZ with brass all over the place. I imagine if Carney took a weekend
with that big business brain seriously questioning things I think there would be some squirming at NDHQ. Then do the civilian
Senior ranks in DND.

If the current Clerk of the Privy Council puts on the hat and mindset he had while at Bell as CEO, he could clean up the GoFo mess within a few days. He’s no stranger to executive level massacres, especially well deserved ones.

 

[MacNav63]

If the current Clerk of the Privy Council puts on the hat and mindset he had while at Bell as CEO, he could clean up the GoFo mess within a few days. He’s no stranger to executive level massacres, especially well deserved ones.

I'll give him credit for righting the ship after the Monty years but the real bloodletting didn't start until his successor took over in 2008 with a 100 day plan that shed 2500 managers, starting at the executive level. We spent the summer gathering in my office at the end day every Friday to toast the fact we were still there.

After that, the bloodlettings just became an almost annual part of life, including just last month. In business, if the revenue ain't there then something's got to give...

 

[GR66]

Switzerland is reducing their F-35 buy due to cost increases being passed on by the US Government

Switzerland reduces F-35 buy after $610 million price hike - Breaking Defense

"Due to foreseeable additional costs, it is not financially viable to maintain the originally planned number" of aircraft, said a Swiss statement.

breakingdefense.com

Switzerland has decided to cut an order of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets due to a price increase of roughly $610 million enforced by the US government, and following a contract dispute between the two sides.

In a statement today, the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport said that “due to foreseeable additional costs, it is not financially viable to maintain the originally planned number” of aircraft, instead signaling that a “maximum” quantity of the stealth jets will be acquired in line with an approved 6 billion Swiss Franc (7.5 billion USD) budget. The statement did not reveal a revised aircraft figure to be acquired.

“Talks held with the US in the summer revealed that Switzerland cannot enforce the contractually agreed fixed price for the F-35A fighter jet,” noted the Swiss statement. “The US cites increased costs due to inflation, rising raw material prices, and other factors.”

So the original estimated fixed price contract for the Swiss F-35A's won't be honoured by the US due to the increased costs due to inflation, rising raw material prices, etc. I wonder how much of those cost increases are a direct result of the tariff's being imposed by the US (including on aluminum and steel)?

Additionally, the DoD official added then that a specific note requested by Bern, labelled “Note 55” confirms that “the [Swiss] aircraft will be purchased using fixed-price contracts but clarifies that the price estimated in the LOA may differ from the actual contract price. Fixed-price contracts account for inflation and provide cost predictability but do not guarantee that the estimated LOA price will match the final contract price.”

As Breaking Defense reported, Switzerland previously argued that a fixed-price had been “abandon[ed]” despite “intensive discussions” between Swiss and American officials, leading to inflationary and tariff pressures that could drive up the cost of the order between anywhere from 650 million to 1.3 billion Swiss francs.

 

[Czech_pivo]

It seems SAAB has increased their job creation numbers by 20%.

Anyone able to provide a link behind the paywall?

Building military aircraft in Canada would create more than 12,000 jobs, Saab tells Ottawa

Proposals to build Gripen fighter jet and GlobalEye surveillance plane being taken ‘very seriously’, Industry Minister says

www.theglobeandmail.com

Building military aircraft in Canada would create more than 12,000 jobs, Saab tells Ottawa​

 

[Quirky]

Building military aircraft in Canada would create more than 12,000 jobs, Saab tells Ottawa

 

[SeaKingTacco]

It seems SAAB has increased their job creation numbers by 20%.

Anyone able to provide a link behind the paywall?

Building military aircraft in Canada would create more than 12,000 jobs, Saab tells Ottawa

Proposals to build Gripen fighter jet and GlobalEye surveillance plane being taken ‘very seriously’, Industry Minister says

www.theglobeandmail.com

Building military aircraft in Canada would create more than 12,000 jobs, Saab tells Ottawa​

I mean, sure…why not say 120,000?

 

[dapaterson]

I mean, sure…why not say 120,000?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Informative... nice work MGEN McKenna...

Canadian NORAD Commander’s View On Future F-35 Fighter Force​

Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna offers exclusive insights into what opportunities and challenges the F-35A will bring to his commands.

On Tuesday, McKenna sat down with us for an exclusive hour-long interview, talking about F-35s and other aircraft, new radars and other sensors, space-based platforms, Golden Dome and even how he had to ruin a golf course to ensure that RCAF planes can receive fuel at one of its main operating bases.

In the first of a multi-part series of stories from that interview, McKenna talks about the challenges and ramifications of adding scores of fifth-generation fighters that will eventually replace the RCAF’s fleet of aging CF-18 Hornets

Canadian NORAD Commander's View On Future F-35 Fighter Force

Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna offers exclusive insights into what opportunities and challenges the F-35A will bring to his commands.

www.twz.com

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Switzerland is reducing their F-35 buy due to cost increases being passed on by the US Government

Switzerland reduces F-35 buy after $610 million price hike - Breaking Defense

"Due to foreseeable additional costs, it is not financially viable to maintain the originally planned number" of aircraft, said a Swiss statement.

breakingdefense.com

So the original estimated fixed price contract for the Swiss F-35A's won't be honoured by the US due to the increased costs due to inflation, rising raw material prices, etc. I wonder how much of those cost increases are a direct result of the tariff's being imposed by the US (including on aluminum and steel)?

Does give us the abilty to reduce the order and supplement with something else. Or reduce the current order , then wait awhile till a more friendlier administration comes in and start talking about additional aircraft. I have to wonder about our ability to absorb and operate 88 new fighters right now anyways.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Does give us the abilty to reduce the order and supplement with something else. Or reduce the current order , then wait awhile till a more friendlier administration comes in and start talking about additional aircraft. I have to wonder about our ability to absorb and operate 88 new fighters right now anyways.

See the above interview with Gen Mckenna as he touches on that.

 

[Kirkhill]

Informative... nice work MGEN McKenna...

Canadian NORAD Commander’s View On Future F-35 Fighter Force​

Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna offers exclusive insights into what opportunities and challenges the F-35A will bring to his commands.

On Tuesday, McKenna sat down with us for an exclusive hour-long interview, talking about F-35s and other aircraft, new radars and other sensors, space-based platforms, Golden Dome and even how he had to ruin a golf course to ensure that RCAF planes can receive fuel at one of its main operating bases.

In the first of a multi-part series of stories from that interview, McKenna talks about the challenges and ramifications of adding scores of fifth-generation fighters that will eventually replace the RCAF’s fleet of aging CF-18 Hornets

Canadian NORAD Commander's View On Future F-35 Fighter Force

Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna offers exclusive insights into what opportunities and challenges the F-35A will bring to his commands.

www.twz.com

"Q: So, do you feel comfortable that you have enough aircraft to protect Canadian skies?

"A: I do…for the today threat. Does it change as the threat metastasizes in the future? I think that’s the open question. I think this is something you need to reassess almost on a six-month basis, and so I wouldn’t want to stay frozen to an analysis. "

Revise the assessment every six months. That sounds admirable but.... can he adjust his order every 6 months? Where would additional platforms come from? Or is he expecting the Army to pick up the slack with ground-launched assets?

....

Meanwhile Austria has an uprated second tier trainer

Austria Buys M-346F Light Fighters

The M-346Fs will give Austria a new air combat boost, supplementing the country's long-troubled Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.

www.twz.com