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Decision to trim CF-18s lacked defence analysis
Fraser questions plan to upgrade only 80 of the jets
May not be enough to meet Canada's commitments
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWAâ â€At a time when Canadian fighters are on high alert for terrorist hijackings, the federal government is cutting its fleet of CF-18s and may have only 34 of the fighter jets on the frontline in a few years, the auditor-general finds.
Sheila Fraser gave passing grades to the defence department's $2.6 billion program to retrofit the aging fighters with improved electronics, radios and weapon systems to keep them flying until 2017.
But in a report released yesterday, the auditor-general raised a red flag about Ottawa's decision to upgrade just 80 CF-18s, a decision made in 1998 without any analysis of the air force's real need.
And she notes that decision was made three years before terrorist attacks in Washington and New York using hijacked jetliners forced military brass to begin regular fighter patrols in Canadian airspace.
"We expected to find an analysis to support why the department chose 80 as the number to modify ... we were unable to find such an analysis," Fraser wrote in her report.
"Yet, new threats to North America ... may increase demands on the upgraded 80-aircraft fleet."
National Defence purchased 119 of the aircraft in 1980, when the Soviet threat was paramount. The remainder are now for sale or have been scavenged for parts.
Out of the 80 aircraft to be modernized, 48 would be deployed to operational squadrons. Once maintenance issues are taken into account, only 34 are "mission-ready" on a daily basis.
With an attrition rate of one or two aircraft a year, Fraser is urging defence officials take a second look at whether the smaller fleet is enough to meet Canada's commitments.
Yesterday, an audit department official said the air force may have to reconsider its decision to upgrade just 80 of the sleek fighters.
"We're saying it's a different world. Go back and make sure 80 is enough," one audit official said.
Fraser also notes that at the very time when the government is spending billions to improve the jets, future budget woes â †and a shortage of pilots â †could threaten the defence department's ability to "maintain and continue flying the CF-18s to operational commitments.
"It must ensure that it can address existing pilot shortages, shortages of air technicians who maintain the aircraft, shortages of spare parts to keep the aircraft flying, and budgetary pressures on operational funding."
She also noted that tight budgets have capped the amount of flying time each CF-18 pilot gets at about 182 hours a year.
"Pilots no longer train for high-threat scenarios, which require about 240 flying hours per year," Fraser writes.
In the Commons, Defence Minister Bill Graham acknowledged there have been problems in the upgrade program, but he said these are to be expected and the military has responded accordingly.
"The air force is overcoming those problems," said Graham. "They have done a damn good job and we should be very, very proud of them."
Decision to trim CF-18s lacked defence analysis
Fraser questions plan to upgrade only 80 of the jets
May not be enough to meet Canada's commitments
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWAâ â€At a time when Canadian fighters are on high alert for terrorist hijackings, the federal government is cutting its fleet of CF-18s and may have only 34 of the fighter jets on the frontline in a few years, the auditor-general finds.
Sheila Fraser gave passing grades to the defence department's $2.6 billion program to retrofit the aging fighters with improved electronics, radios and weapon systems to keep them flying until 2017.
But in a report released yesterday, the auditor-general raised a red flag about Ottawa's decision to upgrade just 80 CF-18s, a decision made in 1998 without any analysis of the air force's real need.
And she notes that decision was made three years before terrorist attacks in Washington and New York using hijacked jetliners forced military brass to begin regular fighter patrols in Canadian airspace.
"We expected to find an analysis to support why the department chose 80 as the number to modify ... we were unable to find such an analysis," Fraser wrote in her report.
"Yet, new threats to North America ... may increase demands on the upgraded 80-aircraft fleet."
National Defence purchased 119 of the aircraft in 1980, when the Soviet threat was paramount. The remainder are now for sale or have been scavenged for parts.
Out of the 80 aircraft to be modernized, 48 would be deployed to operational squadrons. Once maintenance issues are taken into account, only 34 are "mission-ready" on a daily basis.
With an attrition rate of one or two aircraft a year, Fraser is urging defence officials take a second look at whether the smaller fleet is enough to meet Canada's commitments.
Yesterday, an audit department official said the air force may have to reconsider its decision to upgrade just 80 of the sleek fighters.
"We're saying it's a different world. Go back and make sure 80 is enough," one audit official said.
Fraser also notes that at the very time when the government is spending billions to improve the jets, future budget woes â †and a shortage of pilots â †could threaten the defence department's ability to "maintain and continue flying the CF-18s to operational commitments.
"It must ensure that it can address existing pilot shortages, shortages of air technicians who maintain the aircraft, shortages of spare parts to keep the aircraft flying, and budgetary pressures on operational funding."
She also noted that tight budgets have capped the amount of flying time each CF-18 pilot gets at about 182 hours a year.
"Pilots no longer train for high-threat scenarios, which require about 240 flying hours per year," Fraser writes.
In the Commons, Defence Minister Bill Graham acknowledged there have been problems in the upgrade program, but he said these are to be expected and the military has responded accordingly.
"The air force is overcoming those problems," said Graham. "They have done a damn good job and we should be very, very proud of them."
