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

[ytz]

If the RCAF knows how to run itself, then it should know how to get itself out of the situation that they allowed themselves to get into in the first place. True statement?

Knowing full well that the information that is publicly available rarely tells the whole, complete story,

Knowing the solution and having the resources to implement it are two different things. Not to mention priorities that impact from higher. If you have a certain pool of pilots and the government or the CAF decides that ops takes precedence over pilot production, well that's life.

And of course now we have compounding effects with the reboot of the entire pilot training system.

 

[ytz]

I've heard some on here in the RCN that Topshee is not 'liked' by some because he is 'too vocal', to willing to speak directly and openly to the Canadian public. Well, I say is refreshing to be told the truth, no matter how much I don't want to hear bad news. Maybe its time that the RCAF's top commander starts speaking loudly and publicly like a Topshee and positive change may happen. What is there to lose?

For better or worse the F-35 is way more politically sensitive. So just about most things the Commander would say will either fall on deaf ears or worse be interpreted as political interference by a public servant.

Keep in mind that this forum is the faithful who will readily accept what she says. What the hell can she say to convert those who believe the F-35 has kill switches or that the US simply won't supply parts or that the RCAF has gamed the selection? You can't convince people who are understandable. And in this case, it's best for her to just stay out of the public limelight.

I have zero doubts there's all kinds of conversations and memos flying behind the scene given the hours my own BGEN responds to his emails.

Also, even Topshee holds his fire on things that the public would find hard to hear. You'll never hear Topshee say we pay Irving too much and should build surface combatants in Korea too. And given the price tag, there's no way the RCN leadership hasn't had that thought.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Knowing the solution and having the resources to implement it are two different things. Not to mention priorities that impact from higher. If you have a certain pool of pilots and the government or the CAF decides that ops takes precedence over pilot production, well that's life.

And of course now we have compounding effects with the reboot of the entire pilot training system.

And that speaks directly to the need to make the situation known to ALL interested parties - which means the Canadian public.

'Critical state': Top Royal Canadian Navy officer sounds alarm on fleet's readiness - Breaking Defense

Vice Adm. Angus Topshee in a video posted Monday said the problems plaguing his fleet threaten the service's ability to meet its obligations next year and "beyond."

breakingdefense.com

“The RCN faces some very serious challenges right now that could mean we fail to meet our force posture and readiness commitments in 2024 and beyond,” Vice Adm. Angus Topshee said in a five-minute video posted to the RCN’s YouTube channel on Monday."

What he said/did was a massive gamble - full stop - but do you think that he achieved that he was hoping to by going public? I am in the camp that he did.

Has any RCAF commander said anything similar over the last 7yrs? If they had said back in 2018 or 2019 the following statement - "The RCAF faces some very serious challenges right now that could mean we fail to meet our NORAD force posture and readiness commitments in 2020 and beyond."

If they had made that statement, do you think that the US Commander of NORAD would have quietly sat back and said or did nothing? Do you think that the training of pilots to address the massive shortfall would have been addressed? I guess we'll never know. Instead, muddling along for 7yrs has occurred and the need is ever greater now.