OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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But but we're PEACEKEEPERS and we don't need no fancy jet fighters....
The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)
- Thread starter WingsofFury
- Start date
On a side note, I just hope that any contract signed with Saab contains some kind of provisions to ensure that, should Quebec separate, all production facilities will remain in or relocate to Canada. The same should apply with companies establishing headquarters or major operations in Alberta as well. Knowing this in advance would let a lot of steam out of the separatists’ arguments.
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Its an interesting tack, the belief that the SAAB angle has more behind the scenes than what's being presented to us out in the open.
Somewhat along those lines, it was interesting to watch Ford pivot a hard 180 degrees only a few days after the announcement of 49,000 Chinese EV's being allowed to be sold in Canada after meeting with Carney/Jolly and publicly thanking them and praising them when he was brought into the fold on what the complete Auto Sector strategy is - which we, the general public, are still not aware of as its on going process and we can't afford to have the US know about at this stage.
In case you've not read up on his pivot.
After the meeting with Carney/Jolly:
Doug Ford calls federal auto strategy ‘great’ and says Ontario will be part of it after meeting with Carney and Joly
Ontario Premier Doug Ford appears to have had a change of heart when it comes to the federal government’s auto strategy after hearing more about it from federal officials.www.ctvnews.ca
Ford after the Chinese EV announcement but before meeting with Carney/Jolly:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford Calls on Chinese EV Boycott
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken a strong stance against the deal recently struck between Ottawa and Beijing to allow back Chinese-made electric vehicles in Canada . He’s calling on Canadians to boycott them. Ford believes the deal will harm Ontario's auto sector. "Boycott the Chinese EV...www.guideautoweb.com
Canadian V8s for Canada.
Alberta pickup trucks with ICEs and the oil to fuel them over the long distances of the prairies.
Ontario producing pickup trucks with V8 ICEs
Ontario becomes an international centre of excellence for the ICE community
EVs work for the world's high density communities, the places.
But ICEs still are hard to beat in the spaces, the low density areas.
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That's definitely a prime example.
As much as people on here want to dismiss public opinion and jobs claims, they matter. They likely matter more than actual capability, right up until the shooting starts in a peer conflict.
All major procurement projects are political to some degree. The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a perfect example of it. The use of the LAV platforms made in London is another great example.
The most recent examples of subs, and potentially fighters, fall perfectly within the same pattern.
Quirky
Army.ca Veteran
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How do the fighter drivers feel flying those antiques in eastern europe when there's an actual threat? I wonder if their exodus has anything to do with being under equipped for a modern war, with no replacement coming.
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Likely about the same as people rolling around Afghanistan in MLs and Bisons did...
Let's no pretend the fighter community is the only community that has to deal with potential risks from older platforms. Its a reality faced by every element of every military, even the Americans have old kit.
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I'm a Canadian tax payer. F35 vs Gripen flight maintenance cost per hour is very important to me.
Also, I don't care about billions of missing taxdollars from covid, First Nations payouts, ridiculous government contracts with no oversight, green slush funds; that's all rounding errors and the cost of doing business.
Also, I don't care about billions of missing taxdollars from covid, First Nations payouts, ridiculous government contracts with no oversight, green slush funds; that's all rounding errors and the cost of doing business.
OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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Then the public asks "why didn't they have (insert equipment here)?? "
Look in the mirror - you wanted free dental.
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Meanwhile, Lockheed feeling the heat at home
www.flightglobal.com
"Lockheed Martin will spend more of its own money this year to improve the delivery of sustainment services and boost operational readiness rates on the F-35 fighter, the US airframer’s chief executive says.
"“Over a fair few prior years there was – in our opinion – some under-funding of spare parts and repair capacity,” CEO James Taiclet says.
"“We have been striving to make up for some of that with internal investment,” he notes. “We have put a billion-plus [dollars] into spare parts and repairs already, but we are going to double-down on that, to make an extra effort to improve the mission-capable rate for the aircraft and make up for the unfortunate deficit that’s been created over the last four or five years.”"
....
6 days ago
www.whitehouse.gov
Lockheed announces $1bn investment to ‘double-down’ on improving F-35’s operational readiness
Lockheed Martin will spend more of its own money this year to improve the delivery of sustainment services and boost operational readiness rates on the F-35 fighter, chief executive James Taiclet says.
www.flightglobal.com
"Lockheed Martin will spend more of its own money this year to improve the delivery of sustainment services and boost operational readiness rates on the F-35 fighter, the US airframer’s chief executive says.
"“Over a fair few prior years there was – in our opinion – some under-funding of spare parts and repair capacity,” CEO James Taiclet says.
"“We have been striving to make up for some of that with internal investment,” he notes. “We have put a billion-plus [dollars] into spare parts and repairs already, but we are going to double-down on that, to make an extra effort to improve the mission-capable rate for the aircraft and make up for the unfortunate deficit that’s been created over the last four or five years.”"
....
6 days ago
Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
I don't think it does. And I say that as someone who is okay with this government (I like technocrats like Carney).
I don't think there's some great strategy or master plan here. The government is looking for any leverage it can with the US. And defence orders are huge. It's a critical sector for the US. And something our government can directly control. So if the US is going to bully industry into moving to the US, the government will seek more defence manufacturing employment here to compensate.
But the government has a few other problems here. First, they have no idea how the US will respond. Especially on the defence relationship (and we're starting to see issues). Next, it's hard to be sure the bet will pay off. Saab doesn't have a good track record creating jobs elsewhere. See Brazil.
For now though, costs the government nothing to keep threatening LockMart. And progress payments for 2029 deliveries are probably not due till early 2027. So they can wait out the Supreme Court decision on tariffs and maybe even the midterms before making a decision. Just keep saying it's under review and make LockMart dance.
Either way through the Americans are increasingly trash to work with these days. Operationalky things are fine. But any new project where any US Government Department needs to sign off or get a waiver gets slow walked or ghosted. Especially, at the senior levels with political appointees. If they insist on playing those games the spending will go elsewhere.
It's kind of tiresome when people can't change their priors even at a time of record spending not seen in maybe two generations.
Also, GCAP is quickly becoming the non-US Allied default follow on to the F-35. You can bet there will be no American fighter that sells like the F-35 ever again, after this administration.
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Those "antiques" just got upgraded with a GaN AESA radar (variant of the Super Hornet radar), datalinks, and a whole slew of new weapons including the 9X Sidewinder, 120D AMRAAMs and JSOWs. A HEP II Hornet is on par and possibly better than the Gripens being discussed, in some ways.
OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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At my gig with the Aviation Museum I have made an acquaintance with an American A7 pilot who is about my age or a bit older. He thinks speed in a jet fighter is over rated and its the manouevrability that is the key to survival. He did fly F 18s at one time too.
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The thing about Ukraine is that it reminds us that when the fighting starts people die and equipment is destroyed regardless how good the equipment and tactics are. And the fighting and dying continues regardless of the quality of the kit.
Wars will be fought with old kit, obsolete junk and modifications of whatever is available. By the time Canada fields 88 F35s and GCAP is flying the world, and combat, will have changed requiring both to be modified to meet the reality of the day.
Wars will be fought with old kit, obsolete junk and modifications of whatever is available. By the time Canada fields 88 F35s and GCAP is flying the world, and combat, will have changed requiring both to be modified to meet the reality of the day.
- Reaction score
- 12,429
- Points
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Meanwhile, Lockheed feeling the heat at home
Lockheed announces $1bn investment to ‘double-down’ on improving F-35’s operational readiness
Lockheed Martin will spend more of its own money this year to improve the delivery of sustainment services and boost operational readiness rates on the F-35 fighter, chief executive James Taiclet says.
"Lockheed Martin will spend more of its own money this year to improve the delivery of sustainment services and boost operational readiness rates on the F-35 fighter, the US airframer’s chief executive says.
"“Over a fair few prior years there was – in our opinion – some under-funding of spare parts and repair capacity,” CEO James Taiclet says.
"“We have been striving to make up for some of that with internal investment,” he notes. “We have put a billion-plus [dollars] into spare parts and repairs already, but we are going to double-down on that, to make an extra effort to improve the mission-capable rate for the aircraft and make up for the unfortunate deficit that’s been created over the last four or five years.”"
....
6 days ago
Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
Further to....
Lockheed Martin CEO says company pouring billions into missile output after Trump’s defense push
Lockheed Martin CEO announces defense investment surge after President Trump warns contractors to prioritize weapons production over stock buybacks.
www.foxbusiness.com
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Someone's never had hot brass down their shirt.There is only one type of peacekeeping I want to do
Speed matters and doesn't. If BVR, launching a missile as fast as possible increases range and probability of kill. WVR fights are determined by manoeuvrability. Notably cornering speed which decides who gets the noise around quickest.
Quirky
Army.ca Veteran
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How would those fare enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, if one was to happen? US would likely send their F-35s, would Canada be allowed or able to fly cf18s? While every military has outdated kit, they tend to send their best to the front. I.e. Israel f35, not f15, initial strikes on Iran.
The CF18s were in Romania fairly recently, how would they survive if things got hostile?
Exactly the same way that the USMC Hornets they were baselined to would perform.
