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

[Kirkhill]

German elbows decidedly down.

Germany Turns Away From European Defense: Why Berlin Is Doubling Down on U.S. Military Drones

A €50 billion defense push reveals why Berlin chose American drones over Europe’s long-delayed Eurodrone ambitions.

indiandefencereview.com

France playing nice with Jared's Dad.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/27/europe/us-envoy-kushner-diplomacy-stuns-france-intl

And Starmer, Albanese and Carney have decided they, like Saudi and the UAE are for the war though they were against the war.

....

A bit of turbulence in the rear view mirror.

 

[Maxman1]

Gimli has runways. Big enough for a 737.

Or a 767 with no fuel.

 

[Rainbow1910]

There are rumours circulating that the Feb 2 fuselage signing ceremony for Canada's first F-35 was specifically kept low key and photos will not be released by the Govt/Lockheed Martin due to concerns that their publication will undercut the ongoing fighter review in the eyes of the public. If it is indeed true, it does not bode well for future F-35 orders if we are walking on egg shells to such a degree all the way up to such a high level.......

 

[KevinB]

There are rumours circulating that the Feb 2 fuselage signing ceremony for Canada's first F-35 was specifically kept low key and photos will not be released by the Govt/Lockheed Martin due to concerns that their publication will undercut the ongoing fighter review in the eyes of the public. If it is indeed true, it does not bode well for future F-35 orders if we are walking on egg shells to such a degree all the way up to such a high level.......

The answer is LocMart needs to make a HIMARS plant in Oshawa...

 

[Kirkhill]

The answer is LocMart needs to make a HIMARS plant in Oshawa...

Can we get a manned version of the CAMML-M?

Common to all munitions for air and surface targets

(Autonomous option/future)

Multi-Domain (all services, all targets)

Missile Launcher

Medium based on a 6x6 truck in the 5 to 10 tonne range that is C130 transportable and can carry 2 pods like the MLRS and Chun Moo.

A battery's worth at least for each regiment, Reg and Res, for both GBAD and LRPF.

 

[The Bread Guy]

What risk co-efficient you talkin' 'bout?

Ottawa won't say if it penalized Gripen jets in 2021 analysis

National Defence is refusing to disclose how it analyzed competing fighter jet bids after a Swedish media report suggested the evaluation was weighted against Saab's Gripen E.

toronto.citynews.ca

 

[Rainbow1910]

What risk co-efficient you talkin' 'bout?

Ottawa won't say if it penalized Gripen jets in 2021 analysis

National Defence is refusing to disclose how it analyzed competing fighter jet bids after a Swedish media report suggested the evaluation was weighted against Saab's Gripen E.

toronto.citynews.ca

From the article:

Citing confidential sources, the Swedish business publication Affarsvarlden reported that Ottawa added a risk coefficient to its analysis that significantly undermined the Gripen’s test scores because it was still a new series aircraft.

First of all, I always find the ubiquitous "confidential sources" to be a funny addition, doubly so when its a Swedish business publication bringing back out the sour grapes given how their darling aircraft was absolutely blown out of the comparison between itself and the F-35. Secondly, I'm not sure why they are getting bent out of shape because the Gripen E/F absolutely was a "new series aircraft" at the time. It was an unproven, heavily modified and redesigned version of the older C/D models. Trying to put it forward as simply a variant is disingenuous and the RCAF was entirely in the right to dock it points for such a reason if they did indeed do so. This is doubly relevant when Saab has very few partner nations to assist them in testing, development and future upgrades to the E/F, in comparison to something like the F-35 which is backed by the US military and countless other NATO partners with deep pockets.

Alex McColl, who wrote his 2018 master’s thesis calling for Canada to buy a Gripen fleet, said the partial leak of the scoring doesn’t tell the full story.

“There was no explanation of how the scores were made. There was no highlighting of any risk deduction. I believe that the low score is explained by the risk deduction,” he said.

McColl obtained documents in 2020 that showed how the government was drafting its evaluation scenarios, which he said he believes would have favoured the F-35.

Citing Alex McColl, King of Gripen media talkheads in the article is frankly laughable. Long time followers of the Gripen vs F-35 debate know him and he's still prattling along about his favorite jet in 2026. He really needs to move onto greener pastures at this point, unless the Saab pay cheques are too appealing.

 

[dapaterson]

To be fair, the Super Hornet was being promoted as basically the same as a CF18 when it was under consideration.

Every manufacturer will make every claim even remotely grounded in reality to try to close the deal.

 

[KevinB]

To be fair, the Super Hornet was being promoted as basically the same as a CF18 when it was under consideration.

Every manufacturer will make every claim even remotely grounded in reality to try to close the deal.

The Super Hornet at least was fielded by the USN at that point and not solely a potential aircraft on CAD loosely based on a previous airframe from the company.

Hey the old MDD crew used the CA’s C3 to C3A1 analogy when they pitched the Super Hornet to the USN and USMC. It’s just an ECP if you keep some screws and small pieces right?

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Noah's latest newsletter has the latest RUMINT on Canada's next fighter:

A choice on the Fighter Review has apparently been made internally. Usually I won't report this rumor, but this time seems like there is enough renewed interest. Rumor is that CUSMA negotiations could still change it, but there seems to be a lot of lock on a dual fleet. Take with a grain of salt.

My emphasis.

 

[Remius]

Noah's latest newsletter has the latest RUMINT on Canada's next fighter:



My emphasis.

I’m not saying that is the best choice to make. But it is likely the most balanced choice between politics, capability and dealing with the crack house under our apartment.

 

[Rainbow1910]

I’m not saying that is the best choice to make. But it is likely the most balanced choice between politics, capability and dealing with the crack house under our apartment.

When the response to the crack house under your apartment is to become roommates with the military industrial complex equivalent of one of those guys trying to sell you a get rich quick scheme in your social media DM's, I have serious questions about the competency of the person making the decisions.

 

[Quirky]

When the response to the crack house under your apartment is to become roommates with the military industrial complex equivalent of one of those guys trying to sell you a get rich quick scheme in your social media DM's, I have serious questions about the competency of the person making the decisions.

A Gripen fleet will cripple the RCAF for decades to come. An aircraft the Air Force doesn’t want or need.

 

[KevinB]

A Gripen fleet will cripple the RCAF for decades to come. An aircraft the Air Force doesn’t want or need.

The only other reasonable option for a dual fleet is the F-15EX which is also made here.

IMHO Canada should be trying to figure out what LocMart can offer for production in Canada for secondary production of items.
I’d suggest HIMARS, and a variety of rockets and missiles.

 

[Czech_pivo]

The only other reasonable option for a dual fleet is the F-15EX which is also made here.

IMHO Canada should be trying to figure out what LocMart can offer for production in Canada for secondary production of items.
I’d suggest HIMARS, and a variety of rockets and missiles.

Or,
They take the 88, scrap HIMARS altogether, go with Chunmoo's produced in Canada, along with K9's and Redback's and hitch our wagon to the UK/Japan next gen fighters. Play the long game.

Get domestic production for heavy/light torpedoes, rocket and mobile artillery and new tracked IFV's and in the 10-15yr mark, more domestic next gen fighters.