The Future of the F-35 Italy cuts back

[Windigo]

Super Hornet.

I am seriously torn here, but I'd go with the Typhoon.... the scale tipper here is that its best before date is further out than the Super Hornet.

But only 65 jets? For all of Canada and its three coasts???? FMTT but thats less than half of what I think we really need to be serious. Plus getting ships for northern Canada and a northern base.... cripes on a crutch

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

If the F-35 is off of the table, what would everyone else choose?  Super Hornet, Typhoon, Gripen, or other?

In 2004, United States Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. Jumper said after flying the Eurofighter, "I have flown all the air force jets. None was as good as the Eurofighter."[95][96]


The Typhoon's combat performance, compared to the F-22 Raptor and the upcoming F-35 Lightning II fighters and the French Dassault Rafale, has been the subject of much discussion.[97] In March 2005, Jumper, then the only person to have flown both the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Raptor, talked to Air Force Print News about these two aircraft. He said,
The Eurofighter is both agile and sophisticated, but is still difficult to compare to the F/A-22 Raptor. They are different kinds of airplanes to start with; it's like asking us to compare a NASCAR car with a Formula One car. They are both exciting in different ways, but they are designed for different levels of performance. ...The Eurofighter is certainly, as far as smoothness of controls and the ability to pull (and sustain high g forces), very impressive. That is what it was designed to do, especially the version I flew, with the avionics, the color moving map displays, etc. — all absolutely top notch. The maneuverability of the airplane in close-in combat was also very impressive.
—[98]



</blockquote>

[Centurion40]

But how does it work in the frozen north?  We've got lots of that.

[mirth]

But how does it work in the frozen north?  We've got lots of that.

That's a good point. Gripen may be the best fit. Easy to maintain, able to operate from rough strips, short take-off run.

[MIGMaster]

 I suspect we could buy more fighters if we went with a lower cost options - I suspect it would be in the 90-100 range given our past history. I think we would go with the Super Hornet given our current infrastructure and the transition would probably be much more seamless. That said, logic will probably play no part in the whole affair.

I suspect the cost of this purchase will be considered as part of a bigger price tag to update out Maritime patrol platforms, transport and future helo requirements. 

[mirth]

I think Gripen is the least expensive of the bunch.

[Shelldrake]

Interesting article from the Ottawa Citizen discussing the proposed F-35 purchase by Canada in light of US interest in developing a 6th generation fighter for deployment in 2030.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Canada+purchase+stalls+already+pushing+sixth+generation+fighter+2030/7690204/story.html

[Centurion40]

I suspect we could buy more fighters if we went with a lower cost options - I suspect it would be in the 90-100 range given our past history. I think we would go with the Super Hornet given our current infrastructure and the transition would probably be much more seamless. That said, logic will probably play no part in the whole affair.

I suspect the cost of this purchase will be considered as part of a bigger price tag to update out Maritime patrol platforms, transport and future helo requirements.

I heard that they were considering drones for maritime patrol.

I like the idea of the Gripen or Typhoon because they look sexy.  The Hornet has the been-there, done-that look about it.





Hopefully the RCAF is taking more factors into consideration, other than looks!!

[Centurion40]

Interesting article from the Ottawa Citizen discussing the proposed F-35 purchase by Canada in light of US interest in developing a 6th generation fighter for deployment in 2030.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Canada+purchase+stalls+already+pushing+sixth+generation+fighter+2030/7690204/story.html

Then perhaps the Super Hornet is the best stop-gap, for 20 years when the next, next-gen fighter comes out.

[Martok]

Interesting article from the Ottawa Citizen discussing the proposed F-35 purchase by Canada in light of US interest in developing a 6th generation fighter for deployment in 2030.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Canada+purchase+stalls+already+pushing+sixth+generation+fighter+2030/7690204/story.html

If anyone believes it will actually be deployed anywhere near 2030, then I have some lovely oceanfront property in Arizona I'd like to sell you... 

[Shelldrake]

Canadian American Strategic Review argues for a mix of Super Hornets and its Growler electronic attack variant.

http://www.casr.ca/mp-northern-growler-daly.htm

[MIGMaster]

Canadian American Strategic Review argues for a mix of Super Hornets and its Growler electronic attack variant.

http://www.casr.ca/mp-northern-growler-daly.htm

That's a real plus for the Super Hornet !

[Centurion40]

Canadian American Strategic Review argues for a mix of Super Hornets and its Growler electronic attack variant.

http://www.casr.ca/mp-northern-growler-daly.htm

Too rational.  It won't fly (no pun intended... really, please no more punny posts!!).

[mirth]

65 Super Hornets and 15-20 of the Growler variant, very sensible. You're right 40, it will never work  ;D

[Centurion40]

We'll probably end-up doing nothing until our existing fleet of Hornets are u/s, then we'll lease some used Typhoons from the Brits.  Then we'll ground the Typhoon fleet after a couple catch fire in-flight because we left them in storage too long while we were sorting-out the deal with the Brits.