The CF-18 fleet is expected to serve until about 2017-2020. The current plan is to buy 65 F-35. that give a good indication of how many money Canada is ready to spend on new aircraft.

My question is: In regard of traditional RCAF need and future challenge, What would be your alternative if the F-35 is delayed or unavailable beyond this date?

australia is in a similar boat to you with similar time frame on our fa-18ab

although it was to replace the f111 we got 12 sh and 12 growler to tide us over, becase it slips easily into existing setup

they are going back to usn when we get our f-35

they will have hours on the frame but zero carrier landings and so are of value to them, as they are keeping their sh for a while

CAF don't see the point in getting 4.nn gen plane when its 5th gen capability that they want - but Boeing are trying via politicians rather than through the uniforms.

considering how Boeing dudded both canada and australia on wear and tear issues, and on production alert and maint issues for the hornets, then they'd be awfully brave to take Boeing on the sales pitch for work share benefit.

Boeing have made a submission to the CAF for Shornets.  They're pleading that its good sense based on work share for Canuck industry.

Unfortunately Canada has a history of pork in its defence appropriations, our politicians like to spread the wealth around the country.   But I hope you're right.  I don't see the point of flying a platform 20 years beyond the US Navy's retirement date for the F-18.  Especially since a fair number of NATO countries will be flying F35s, the synergy of interoperability, network sensor fusion and shared logistics is too compelling. 

 

Canada has already gotten a piece of the JSF pie, would there any prospect of assembling F35s in Canada should we buy them?

Boeing have tried the same snake oil sales job that they did on RAAF in mid  2006 - in fact they are using RAAFs interim buy as a reference model for the canucks.

from an interim perspective it makes sense.  at least we're giving them back, however for the canucks they're trying to make it a fleet sale and not an interim.

I'd be happy to see Growlers harnessed and completed and kept for RAAF, but am unsure as to whether the procurement issues as such are similar for the canucks.  

I hope the pollies in canada have long memories about how Boeing have behaved before they commit their hard earned dollars into this little shell game.

Sorry for the RCAF/CAF, i have read too much about WW2 lately,  ya   gf0012-aust... you can laugh lol.

 

 

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

 

The Gripens would be "ok" to support our troop in Afghanistan. it would also fit our general usage of fighter. But I agree with Beryoza and sentinel28a, the Gripens is too short legged, in fact very few fighter can really cover the artic. About Typhoon and Rafale, I have to say that I cant imagine Canada with a fighter that is not come from USA, for political and industrial reason. USA is a too big partner to go see elsewhere.

 

SHornet is probably the best bet. Integration to Nato&allies could be a problem if every one else go JSF, but CAF is rarely on the frontline anyway. 50/50 Shornet and F-35 maybe?

 

 

 

I would like to ear more about that. I didn't ear that much bad comment about the CF-18.

(Do you think Lockheed Martin would have behave differently ? Personally, I don't like their style. but I guess every aeronautics companies are corrupt as they are.)

My turn. I would have thought it would have been CFAC? :D

 

Canadian Forces Air Command.

 

Joking. :P

It's worth remembering that when the CF-18s were bought, it was still manufactured by McDonnell Douglas--Boeing hadn't acquired McD yet.

 

I don't think the Typhoon or Rafale would be beyond the pale for Canada.  After all, the CC-150 Polaris is an Airbus A310, and the CAF just got the CH-149 Comorant, which is based on the AW101.  Those are both European designs.

 

Or maybe Canada could just update the Arrow and put it into service! 

I don't think the Typhoon or Rafale would be beyond the pale for Canada.