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

[FJAG]

Ok, I looked and there never was an order placed as far as I can see. It also didn’t figure in Harper’s budget after 2011 nor his platform in 2015 after 4 years with a majority. Only an intent, no actual deal.

With a crashing economy and a desire to bring back a balanced budget. Lots of stuff was pushed out a horizon or two.

 

[Maxman1]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/saab-sweden-canada-fighters-f35-9.6987069

In just the span of a few days, we're already seeing flip flopping from "purchasing Gripens is not a prerequisite to setting up an assembly line for fighters in Canada with Canadian partners" to saying "it doesn’t make sense to go to the trouble of establishing another facility and transferring technology without an order from Canada." It sounds like Sweden's Defence Minister needs to talk with Saab's CEO to figure out what this bid actually is and what we're on the hook for potentially.

Amusingly enough, the article starts poking holes in Saab's claimed jobs generation.



By the way, Brazil signed their contract with Saab in 2014 and just inaugurated their final assembly line in 2023, with the first jets apparently being assembled in Brazil sometime this year? Saab is telling us it will take between 3-5 years to deliver those 10,000 jobs throughout the factory, supply chains, construction, indirect jobs, R&D, etc (with 3 years being aircraft deliveries from outside of Canadian factories and 5 years with aircraft being delivered directly from those Canadian factories) when Brazil clearly doesn't reflect the realism of such a proposal. As much as I'd like to say Canadian aviation industry is leagues more advanced than Brazil, we really aren't at the end of the day when they have a company like Embraer that is basically doing what Bombardier does, but potentially better given their military contracts abroad.

Saab must really think we're idiots to suggest it could start deliveries in three years.

 

[dapaterson]

Saab must really think we're idiots to suggest it could start deliveries in three years.

To the contrary, they are saying that they would reshuffle their current delivery schedule to privilege our order.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

To the contrary, they are saying that they would reshuffle their current delivery schedule to privilege our order.

Uh. Huh.

Sure.

 

[Jarnhamar]

To the contrary, they are saying that they would reshuffle their current delivery schedule to privilege our order.

I think Maxman1 is correct. The CEO of Saab said:

If a Saab facility is stood up, the first Canadian-manufactured Gripens would be rolling off the assembly line in “roughly, between, three and five years depending on the setup,” he said.

 

[Maxman1]

To the contrary, they are saying that they would reshuffle their current delivery schedule to privilege our order.

In other words, screw over their existing customers.

Everything Saab has offered seems desperate.

 

[ytz]

I know nobody is interested in this space stuff but what the hey!

Any thoughts @ytz

Canada Deepens Space Ties with Europe Through Historic Investment

Today, at the SpaceBound 2025 Conference, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, made the historic announcement that Canada will increase its investment to European Space Agency (ESA) programs by $528.5...

ca.finance.yahoo.com

Giddy up. Time to grow CSpO beyond Nine Eyes.

More interestingly we're also developing a sovereign launch capability. Something our Commander has pushed for.

Rocket launch proves to be a milestone for budding Nova Scotia spaceport

Single-stage rocket didn’t achieve intended goal of reaching 100 km in altitude, but sets the stage for more activity

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[ytz]

Great question. Why don't we have one yet?

Partly politics like you mention. But also partly because we insisted that all deliveries be TR3 and Block IV ready. And also because of the massive infrastructure renewal we knew was required.