Further to this post,
UK F-35 Update: How, er, few? Plus Norway and the Netherlands
is the USAF having a bit of a wobbly re-think? From Defense Technology’s “Ares” blog:
New Military Threats Include Less Money and Fewer Airplanes
Despite being tactful, the message from U.S. Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz is that the spending topline will flatten and actual buying power will drop for both serving personnel and retirees…
The F-35 program is a poster child for the conflicting needs, requirements and financial constraints of the new budgetary environment.
The program could benefit from a multi-year contract, but only if there is a long-term requirement for the aircraft and there is budget stability, Schwartz says…
The Air Force’s financial strategy will have to deal with the development of advanced radars that are chipping away at the invisibility of stealth design like the F-35, F-22 and B-2…
How realistic are the purchases below?
F-35 Acquisition costs grow; Sustainment costs will be even higher
…
# USAF plans to buy 1,763 F-35A CTOL variants by FY2034.
# Foreign military sales are expected to be over 3,100 F-35 aircraft through FY2035 by major partner nations.
Mark
Ottawa
Mark
I get it that you are against the F35 purchase. Given that we do not make the buy – what role do you see for our airforce and with what type of aircraft?
I am not against the F-35 purchase since no contract has been signed nor will it be according to the government for at least another two years. I am against the way the government suddenly announced their intention, the bases on which they have justified it, and the manner in which they have defended it.
See here:
http://unambig.com/uk-f-35-update-how-er-few/#comments
You might also search the blog under “F-35″ for more. The Boeing F/A-18E/F is one possible alternative along with others mentioned at this post:
http://unambig.com/the-us-marine-corps-the-f-35-and-the-super-hornet-4-5-for-canada/
A true competition should be held. I would be grateful if you took the time to read some of the posts to see some of the details involved in the matter.
As for the role of Air Force fighters, airspace surveillance and defence clearly come first. Though we could of course always let the US do it for us-not that that would be acceptable to most Canadians.
It is up to the Canadian government to decide what expeditionary fighter capabilities are necessary. This government has been mute on that other key role.
And, naturally, transports are required to support the Army abroad, do SAR (which our C-130Hs will be doing as the C-130Js are delivered), assist in natural disasters at home and abroad, etc. This government has done a good job on that front, with the C-17s too.
Plus helicopters, mainly to support the Army. The government has again done well on that with the temporary acquisition of CH-47Ds for Afstan and the coming arrival of CH-47Fs:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/on-the-verge-canadas-47b-program-for-mediumheavy-transport-helicopters-02390/
One could go on but NCAA football calls.
Mark
Ottawa
I would say they are VERY committed to the purchase since the first delivery to the USAF will be 1st Q 2011.
And yes a contract has been signed for this delivery and another for Israel.
And a competition was help between Boeing , Lockheed Martin, and McDonald Douglas. McDonald lost right off and Boeing bought them. Then it was just Boeing and Lockheed. Both had planes and one was better, Lockheeds F-35
AND ANOTHER THING….
Liberals in Canada are saying they need to just update their CF-18 fleet that will last another decade, this is pointless seeing that by 2020 those CF-18′s will be worth nothing and Canada is scheduled to receive the JSF in 2016.
AND…
Liberals in Canada keep saying they don’t need a fighter with these capabilities….
Well I hope you aren’t planning on sitting back and letting the US take care of your asses when Russia’s new SU T-50 PAK Fighters come into your airspace and you have nothing to defend or secure it. AND if you say drones or UAV’s you’re and idiot, they couldn’t even come close to handling a 5th gen fighter jet.
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