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

[MilEME09]

According to the information in the article that was written last year by Billie Flynn about the state of Fighter Pilot training in Canada, he stated the following:

"There are only 42 combat-ready fighter pilots in the RCAF, not enough to sufficiently man the CF-18s to protect our country or support operations abroad."

I wonder what our total number is, and how many are not combat ready due to minor issues (such as on MAT/PAT leave, expired medical, etc)

 

[QV]

Please read the article I posted written by Billie Flynn.

We already have pilots training in Italy, Finland and the US - at the cost of 2$m USD per year per pilot.

Read it. Terrible. We (Canada) really can't stop fucking things up.

 

[MilEME09]

Read it. Terrible. We (Canada) really can't stop fucking things up.

This isn't just a Canada problem, just about every western airforce has been struggling to keep pilots, heck even the russian pre invading Ukraine were too

 

[Kirkhill]

Our allies have also streamlined and wrung efficiencies out of their training streams, leaving minimal spare or surge capacity.

What is the net tendency of flight training in the AI age?

.....

CF5-AI and CH146-AI?

You just have to train the passenger how to command the aircraft.

Gunners and Drone Operators riding AI platforms as passengers?


....

Edit - Further to...

Black Hawk piloted remotely by US Defense Secretery in DARPA's test

US video shows Secretary Pete Hegseth remotely flying a UH-60 Black Hawk at DARPA, highlighting a leap toward autonomous military aviation.

interestingengineering.com

 

[Czech_pivo]

I wonder what our total number is, and how many are not combat ready due to minor issues (such as on MAT/PAT leave, expired medical, etc)

If we only have 42 combat ready pilots I can 100% understand how our Allies (cough, America, cough cough), question our reliability.

If that is our actual number (the article was written roughly 18 months ago, so the actual number can be +/- X%), I'm disappointed across all levels of society - from the CAF command for not yelling loudly from the ramparts that the RCAF is in crisis mode and to not stop yelling until this is fixed, to ALL POLITICAL parties for not roundly condemning this and again making it one of the main pillars of things that need to be addressed ASAP, to our Media for not constantly beating this drum and making this something that is always front and center in the publics eye and lastly the Canadian people for not taking this issue (along with a long, long, long of other issues facing the CAF - just a serious, if not more serious, in some cases) and making it part of everyday topics of discussions among friends, family and neighbours.

The more I hear about these issues - the more GRATEFUL I am that the American's elected Trump and that he is loudly calling us out on these issues. If the end result of his belittling and ridiculing us is a stronger, larger, fully funded CAF that is capable of standing on its own feet, firmly upon a renewed and expanded CDN defense industry, then keep going Donald because we still have a long ways to go.

On another note, I'm hoping that all of this will result in the putting out to pasture those in positions of power in the CAF who have outlived their usefulness and who's old ideas of career movement upwards by turning a blind eye to the old rotten ways occurs.

 

[QV]

If we only have 42 combat ready pilots I can 100% understand how our Allies (cough, America, cough cough), question our reliability.

If that is our actual number (the article was written roughly 18 months ago, so the actual number can be +/- X%), I'm disappointed across all levels of society - from the CAF command for not yelling loudly from the ramparts that the RCAF is in crisis mode and to not stop yelling until this is fixed, to ALL POLITICAL parties for not roundly condemning this and again making it one of the main pillars of things that need to be addressed ASAP, to our Media for not constantly beating this drum and making this something that is always front and center in the publics eye and lastly the Canadian people for not taking this issue (along with a long, long, long of other issues facing the CAF - just a serious, if not more serious, in some cases) and making it part of everyday topics of discussions among friends, family and neighbours.

The more I hear about these issues - the more GRATEFUL I am that the American's elected Trump and that he is loudly calling us out on these issues. If the end result of his belittling and ridiculing us is a stronger, larger, fully funded CAF that is capable of standing on its own feet, firmly upon a renewed and expanded CDN defense industry, then keep going Donald because we still have a long ways to go.

On another note, I'm hoping that all of this will result in the putting out to pasture those in positions of power in the CAF who have outlived their usefulness and who's old ideas of career movement upwards by turning a blind eye to the old rotten ways occurs.

Welcome.

 

[Kirkhill]

If....then.

If the rumour of replacing the Cyclone with the Sea Hawk is true.....
And If the Sea Hawk can be supplied with the AI system demonstrated above and with the clamshell UH-60
And if the Sea Hawk can pass through from the RCD's hangar into the mission bay
And if the Sea Hawk can lift an ISV as well as an M119/L118 (separate lifts if necessary)

Then what might that offer to Canada in terms of small unit expeditionary capabilities?

Especially if the core complement of the RCD was maintained at the 157 planned by the RN instead of the 210 for the RCN.

UH-60 Black Hawk Cargo Drone With Clamshell Nose Breaks Cover (Updated)

The new U-Hawk could act as a launch platform for dozens of smaller drones or loitering munitions, or lug thousands of pounds of cargo.

www.twz.com

.....

Fun AI excursion ----

I just asked Chat if a Sea Hawk would fit inside the AOPS hangar.
The answer came back NO.
Apparently the hangar was constructed only to accommodate the CH-146 Griffon.

I then asked if a CH-148 would fit inside the AOPS hangar.
The answer came back YES.

I then asked if a SH-70 folded was smaller than a CH-148 folded
The answer came back YES.

I then re-asked if a SH-70 would fit inside the AOPS hangar
The answer came back YES.

And it didn't even have the grace to act embarassed.