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

[Kirkhill]

It's almost like even the USAF has realized that all 5th Gen fighters is overkill, and is looking into ordering new F-16s.

I get that Canada operates on a smaller scale, and two fleets is hard, but maybe going all-in on 5th Gen is actually harder in the long run.

Spitfires and Hurricanes.

 

[Furniture]

Spitfires and Hurricanes.

Not to mention the Beaufighter, Blenheim, Defiant, Mosquito, Fulmar, Firefly, Gladiator, Tempest, Typhoon, and Mustang...

It's almost as if, when facing a full scale war, having one magical "do-all" aircraft isn't possible. Not that we'd plan for that. We'll buy 88 of the most delicate aircraft we can buy, because they are "amazing", and not consider what happens when "amazing" doesn't beat "present", "available", or most critically "replaceable".

 

[Frank Farang]

I can see an on-going need for the CF18 unless we end up with a dual fleet. Even if we were reinforcing for NATO an F35 would be overkill if going up against a swarm of drones except as a director or am I selling its capabilities short.

There might be an opportunity to do just that?

The superhornet production line will be shutting down soon to retool for the F47. With the pending changes in US government, hopefully to one more Canada friendly, maybe the line could be moved north to Boeing Canada and keep on making new frames and parts?

As much as I like things about the Gripen and Sweden's willingness to do business, it still has a lot of critical components that come from the US, and while new superhornets wouldn't be identical to the current CF18s, I would think a lot of the experience and institutional knowledge within RCAF would be make it a quicker win.

Keep the full F35 order going, but also build a new fleet of F18Fs to do the less exciting work at a lower cost.

 

[Kirkhill]

Not to mention the Beaufighter, Blenheim, Defiant, Mosquito, Fulmar, Firefly, Gladiator, Tempest, Typhoon, and Mustang...

And their multiple marks...

It's almost as if, when facing a full scale war, having one magical "do-all" aircraft isn't possible. Not that we'd plan for that. We'll buy 88 of the most delicate aircraft we can buy, because they are "amazing", and not consider what happens when "amazing" doesn't beat "present", "available", or most critically "replaceable".

 

[Kirkhill]

Not to mention the Beaufighter, Blenheim, Defiant, Mosquito, Fulmar, Firefly, Gladiator, Tempest, Typhoon, and Mustang...

It's almost as if, when facing a full scale war, having one magical "do-all" aircraft isn't possible. Not that we'd plan for that. We'll buy 88 of the most delicate aircraft we can buy, because they are "amazing", and not consider what happens when "amazing" doesn't beat "present", "available", or most critically "replaceable".

Interesting notes on why both Spitfires and Hurricanes were ordered.

Spits were more advanced but more expensive, took longer to build and didn't have the requisite maintenance base to support their new all metal construction.


"In June 1936, the Air Ministry placed its first order for 600 aircraft. On 26 June 1936, the Air Ministry approved the type name of "Hurricane" that had been proposed by Hawker"

"It was significantly cheaper to produce than the Supermarine Spitfire and took 10,300 man hours per airframe to produce, compared to 15,200 for the Spitfire, which had many parts formed by hand, with English wheels. As war was looking likely, and time was of the essence in providing the RAF with an effective fighter, the authorities expected problems with the more advanced Spitfire, while the Hurricane made use of well-proven manufacturing techniques. The service squadrons were also already experienced in maintaining aircraft structurally similar to the Hurricane. A fabric-covered wing was initially adopted to accelerate production, while a higher-performing, stressed-skin metal wing was introduced in late 1939."

"on 3 June 1936, the Air Ministry placed an order for 310 Spitfires, at a cost of £1,395,000, before the A&AEE had issued any formal report. "

Hawker Hurricane - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Supermarine Spitfire - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Hurricanes chased bombers in the Battle of Britain. The Spits kept the fighters off of the Hurricanes. Hurricanes accounted for 60% of the kills.

.....

The German bombers flew like UAVs and Cruise Missiles - slow and steady on a fixed course with little to no evasion.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Not to mention the Beaufighter, Blenheim, Defiant, Mosquito, Fulmar, Firefly, Gladiator, Tempest, Typhoon, and Mustang...

It's almost as if, when facing a full scale war, having one magical "do-all" aircraft isn't possible. Not that we'd plan for that. We'll buy 88 of the most delicate aircraft we can buy, because they are "amazing", and not consider what happens when "amazing" doesn't beat "present", "available", or most critically "replaceable".

88 F35s
176 Grippens
+A10s
+Apaches

That's my dream