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

[ytz]

Except bases in the Baltics may be certified before our own...

Yeah. But all our programs and procedures still have to be certified to operate there (as in deployed). So much to do. I'm not sure there's value in adding complications. Also, we need those crews coming back and teaching the rest of the force. That can't happen if they and the aircraft are deployed.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Anyone have this on their Bingo Card for 2025?

Saab considers Canada as site for Gripen jet assembly to meet demand from Ukraine

OTTAWA — Swedish aerospace giant Saab is considering Canada as a place to assemble Gripen fighter jets as it moves to quickly ramp up production to meet the demand from Ukraine.

ca.finance.yahoo.com

Saab considers Canada as site for Gripen jet assembly to meet demand from Ukraine​

OTTAWA — Swedish aerospace giant Saab is considering Canada as a place to assemble Gripen fighter jets as it moves to quickly ramp up production to meet the demand from Ukraine.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly tells The Canadian Press this is welcome news and says she's been working with Saab to see what can be done for more partnerships with Canada — efforts that began with the Global Eye surveillance plane, jointly manufactured by Saab and Bombardier

 

[Rainbow1910]

Anyone have this on their Bingo Card for 2025?

Saab considers Canada as site for Gripen jet assembly to meet demand from Ukraine

OTTAWA — Swedish aerospace giant Saab is considering Canada as a place to assemble Gripen fighter jets as it moves to quickly ramp up production to meet the demand from Ukraine.

ca.finance.yahoo.com

Saab considers Canada as site for Gripen jet assembly to meet demand from Ukraine​

OTTAWA — Swedish aerospace giant Saab is considering Canada as a place to assemble Gripen fighter jets as it moves to quickly ramp up production to meet the demand from Ukraine.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly tells The Canadian Press this is welcome news and says she's been working with Saab to see what can be done for more partnerships with Canada — efforts that began with the Global Eye surveillance plane, jointly manufactured by Saab and Bombardier

Further desperation from Saab in an attempt to salvage the Gripen E bid for the RCAF, a Canadian assembly site for the Gripen makes absolutely zero sense outside of being a poorly veiled attempt to wrangle political support domestically for their bid. Canada has no existing infrastructure to reasonably manufacture or even assemble modern fighter aircraft without serious time and investment into such a facility, which seems fanciful given the RCAF's huge lean towards the F-35A.

As per my comment awhile ago about the "Ukrainian order":

I am unaware of any Ukrainian domestic production lines that could take on an advanced western fighter like the Gripen E, especially with a vast majority of its components are imported from various partners abroad. As far as Saab's domestic capability, their supply chains and production capacity is woefully inadequate to meet that Ukrainian order on anything approaching a reasonable timeframe. They have been locked into a fairly small production tempo since its inception and their repeated export failures have not helped the situation over the years.

To put it into perspective, Saab has built something like 300~ Gripen's of all types since the mid 1980's until now. Ukraine now wants 25% or 50% of that total lifetime order? Good luck lol.

The whole thing is poorly thought out and seems likely to fall apart.

 

[QV]

The whole thing is poorly thought out and seems likely to fall apart.

Which has never stopped a dumb political decision from manifesting. Let's hope it's different now.

 

[YZT580]

Which has never stopped a dumb political decision from manifesting. Let's hope it's different now.

As long as the CAF isn't ordering them why do you care? If SAAB wants to build an assembly line an ocean away from their parts plants we could certainly use the high tech jobs or am I missing something here?

 

[QV]

As long as the CAF isn't ordering them why do you care? If SAAB wants to build an assembly line an ocean away from their parts plants we could certainly use the high tech jobs or am I missing something here?

Fair point. I thought the assembly was part of the buy and not a standalone thing.

 

[ytz]

As long as the CAF isn't ordering them why do you care? If SAAB wants to build an assembly line an ocean away from their parts plants we could certainly use the high tech jobs or am I missing something here?

Nobody is that naive.....

 

[ytz]

Further desperation from Saab in an attempt to salvage the Gripen E bid for the RCAF, a Canadian assembly site for the Gripen makes absolutely zero sense outside of being a poorly veiled attempt to wrangle political support domestically for their bid. Canada has no existing infrastructure to reasonably manufacture or even assemble modern fighter aircraft without serious time and investment into such a facility, which seems fanciful given the RCAF's huge lean towards the F-35A.

As per my comment awhile ago about the "Ukrainian order":


The whole thing is poorly thought out and seems likely to fall apart.

They are making a play for a second signer fleet and a Globaleye order where they are distinctly disadvantaged.

 

[PrairieFella]

So in a perfect world assuming we adequately fund both the infrastructure and training of new techs, would it be a bad thing to operate two fleets? Say 65 F35s for high precision stuff mixed with 65 Gripens doing the grunt work like presence patrolling (or whatever the aerial term is for that concept) and other light fighter roles.

 

[Rainbow1910]

So in a perfect world assuming we adequately fund both the infrastructure and training of new techs, would it be a bad thing to operate two fleets? Say 65 F35s for high precision stuff mixed with 65 Gripens doing the grunt work like presence patrolling (or whatever the aerial term is for that concept) and other light fighter roles.

In a perfect world, the RCAF would be much better off operating either an enlarged single F-35A fleet or a mixed fleet of F-35A and unmanned wingmen/6th gen fighters.

 

[PrairieFella]

In a perfect world, the RCAF would be much better off operating either an enlarged single F-35A fleet or a mixed fleet of F-35A and unmanned wingmen/6th gen fighters.

Im looking at it as a cost thing. There isnt infinite money for the RCAF and Gen 6 seems to be shaping up to make F35 look like a Camry. Seems like a lot of money to spend most of the time presence patrolling and having something attritable amd replaceable in Canada in a war might be good to have especially considering that we'll mostly be facing outdated MiGs and Sukhois anyways. Kind of a Hawker Hurricane to the F-35s Spitfire.

100% Loyal Wingman should be pursued though. Just some food for thought on my end.

 

[Quirky]

So in a perfect world assuming we adequately fund both the infrastructure and training of new techs, would it be a bad thing to operate two fleets? Say 65 F35s for high precision stuff mixed with 65 Gripens doing the grunt work like presence patrolling (or whatever the aerial term is for that concept) and other light fighter roles.

I can’t imagine a scenario where a fighter pilot in the RCAF would be excited to fly a gripen over a F-35. We can’t get guys for the CF-18, which is arguably more capable than the Gripen depending which part of the internet you read.

 

[PrairieFella]

I can’t imagine a scenario where a fighter pilot in the RCAF would be excited to fly a gripen over a F-35. We can’t get guys for the CF-18, which is arguably more capable than the Gripen depending which part of the internet you read.

Who cares about exciting, if its their job they should do it. I doubt supply techs are overly excited to count stock but alas, its a role that is important.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I suspect a lot of the early "loyal wingman" in service are going to be older jets, converted to the role. Many of them playing the part of SAM bait.

 

[Quirky]

Who cares about exciting, if it’s their job they should do it. I doubt supply techs are overly excited to count stock but alas, it’s a role that is important.

No one is going to line up to fly the Gripen…in 2030.

 

[Czech_pivo]

No one is going to line up to fly the Gripen…in 2030.

How does that line up with someone flying a Eurofighter or Tornado in 2030?
If someone wants to fly and they choice is a C17 or a Gripen please don’t tell me they will chose the C17 first.