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

[KevinB]

I like that but they can’t keep up with the Hornets. So rip out the ejection seats and install equipment to fly as a drone, add a pair of bombs to the belly hard points and give to Ukraine.

I’d say same for the Hornets…

 

[Maxman1]

I like that but they can’t keep up with the Hornets.

The Hornets are also on their way out.

 

[Quirky]

Or let’s just scrap the Tutor and not replace it at all.

Scrap the tutor, yes long overdue. Scrap the snowbirds, that would be a poor political decision considering your voting base are seniors who love nostalgia.

 

[Rifleman62]

I remember the Golden Hawks in their beautiful Sabers.

 

[Czech_pivo]

I think its basically an impossibility that the RCAF will operate a mixed fighter fleet anytime soon, given how much the RCAF desires the F-35A and ultimately, the fact all of the alternatives have significant issues to various degrees (interoperability, cost, combat viability, production rates, etc). The govt is kicking the can on the review because it is very high profile procurement of American equipment in an unpopular period, but I'll bet the 88 will come in their entirety.

Basically the only reason you see other partners buying beefed up 4th gen fighters at this point is the lack of domestic 5th+ gen alternates and politics cutting them off from the F-35. We do not have these issues, so if baffles me why so many others are willingly pushing for inferior fleets of mixed aircraft. If we get to a point where we are seriously concerned about the US undermining our ability to utilize the F-35, we've passed a point where the US can get similar results on any other hypothetical Canadian fleet by directly threatening us/the origin nation for those platforms. All of the talk about domestic production of modern fighter aircraft is laughable and a huge waste of time/effort/money for Canada.

If the US administration tells Sweden to cut Canada off from the Gripen's supply chain and support network or the US will level tariffs/sanctions on them, we'll be just as screwed as if the US did it to us themselves. Nobody is going to stick their necks out for Canada in a worse case scenario like this.

I believe that the Spanish, Italians and Germans (and Turkey as well?), are all on the hook for the 4th tranche of the Eurofighter. All of them have mixed fleets and look to continue to have mixed fleets well into the future. I believe that the RAF will continue to have a mixed fleet as well.

There is little, to no, reason why Canada shouldn't have a fighter capability equal to an Italy or Spain in terms of absolute numbers.