Correct, but is it up to the capabilities/ potential of the Gripen?
If we announce a Training aircraft buy, then Canadians may not complain to much.
The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)
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If we announce a Training aircraft buy, then Canadians may not complain to much.
No. Cause it's an actual trainer.
It's not optimized to be a trainer. Too light for our main fighter. And not independent enough of ITAR, if the goal is independence from the US.
Really not sure why people keep beating this dead horse.
It is suppose to be a decent aircraft to fly. What makes a optimized trainer over a non optimized trainer?
Would not be our main fighter, Would make a great Northern based aircraft for QRF duties. Can be run on less then ideal runways.
One can not simply get away from ITAR, The US defense industry has their hands in every western supplier at some level or degree.
Not really a dead horse so much as alternatives.
We need more then 60ish or so F35s we have ordered.
We need new Fighter trainer jets. (the US has ordered the T7) similar looking to the Gripen with duel tail system.
We need jets for our northern base(s) unless we spend a pile of money on infrastructure they are not suitable for the F35
Quirky
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We ordered 88.
A pile of money is being spent on infrastructure to house the F35.
The Gripen in Canada is dead. Forget about.
GR66
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The only reason I'd go with the Gripen as a 2nd fighter would be to partner with Saab on their Next Generation fighter (building an initial batch of Gripen's here would get our workforce trained for the new fighters). There is an expectation that their Gripen replacement will be larger and have longer range due to the fact that since joining NATO their front line is much further away.
Sweden will however need partners to get their program off the ground due to the cost of such a program and they are the only realistic partner for Canada that would give us the option of domestic production and integration of Pratt & Whitney engines in the design. You're not going to get that from Dassault, GCAP, FCAS or NGAD. If domestic production is a key objective then partnering with Sweden is likely our best option.
If we forget about the idea of domestic production or integration of Canadian engines then the program I'd pick to join is GCAS. The design is further along than the others, the UK is most likely of all nations to remain a firm ally of Canada (and Italy and Japan less likely than France or Germany to have any significant political differences with us) so probably the more stable alliance. Also, the design is focusing on extended range as both the UK and Japan have very large airspaces to patrol which would be a major requirement for Canada as well obviously. The problem though with the program is that as advanced as it is there is likely limited opportunity for Canadian industrial participation in the program.
Sweden will however need partners to get their program off the ground due to the cost of such a program and they are the only realistic partner for Canada that would give us the option of domestic production and integration of Pratt & Whitney engines in the design. You're not going to get that from Dassault, GCAP, FCAS or NGAD. If domestic production is a key objective then partnering with Sweden is likely our best option.
If we forget about the idea of domestic production or integration of Canadian engines then the program I'd pick to join is GCAS. The design is further along than the others, the UK is most likely of all nations to remain a firm ally of Canada (and Italy and Japan less likely than France or Germany to have any significant political differences with us) so probably the more stable alliance. Also, the design is focusing on extended range as both the UK and Japan have very large airspaces to patrol which would be a major requirement for Canada as well obviously. The problem though with the program is that as advanced as it is there is likely limited opportunity for Canadian industrial participation in the program.
