#!$^%$&^!@^!!!! 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.)

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.)