#!$^%$&^!@^!!!! I posted 2 topic again...

Can I delete the other one?

I would think that given the conditions they need to operate under that they would prefer a twin engine design but give the US Navy is going the single engine route with  the F-35  the options are limited to an  F-15 variant  or the F-22 if we would export it (and Canada wanted to spend the money). 

 

Why is Canada not looking at UAVs?

I dont think they could go far wrong with Shornets and maybe a light sprinkling of Growlers to tide them over until the F35 comes on line.

 

Arty

Twin powerplant birds have yet another engine to malfunction.  Canukistan should buy 1000 F-35's. 

By "unavailable", I mean that Canada is not the first on the Delivery Schedule, We could have to wait several years to have some of them. I am not sure if we can keep the CF-18 fleet flying long enough to directly replace them by the F-35.

 

If Canada get an interim fighter, they will probably finish into the prime RCAF fighter... and for a very long time. I guess we could buy some second hand hornet, but they will probably be old too.

ambush wrote "Certainly JAS 39 Gripens could handle the Canadian cold."

I would think a nation with the second largest airspace in the world (after Russia) would want something with longer legs. I agree that the Shornet or an advanced F-15 variant should be the way to go.

First, it's no longer the RCAF and hasn't been since the 1960s.  Just the CAF now.  Thought I'd be a nasty nitpicker again.

 

The best route for the CAF is probably the Super Hornet if the F-35 deal falls through or is delayed.  It provides the most bang for the buck, and pilots would probably have a very smooth transition period.  There would be plenty of commonality, so that also eliminates a lot of retraining for ground personnel too.

 

Failing that, the Typhoon is probably the best bet.  I'd put in a good word for the Rafale, but 1) that's doubtful and 2) NART syndrome (Not Another Rafale Thread).  The Gripen, while a great fighter, is too short-legged, and you want more than one engine over the vast Canadian wilderness (read that like Mike Rowe on Deadliest Catch). 

 

Of course, the Canadians can always wait until they get annexed by the US, then they can have all the F-22s they want!  (I'm kidding, of course...Canada has never forgiven us for burning Toronto, and all those damn kilometers would have to go.)