BEST FIGHTER FOR CANADA

Welp...  So much for my hiatus. Back in March, it seemed like Canada's protracted fighter jet saga was entering a stage of (relative) stability, with an "interim" purchase of 18 Super Hornets pending followed by a open fighter competition. That was then...  This is now. Boeing would rather we DON'T sell these... ...Then to sell us these. The Canadian government has now suspended talks with Boeing  thanks to a trade dispute over allegations that Bombardier is "dumping" (i.e. selling below cost) C-Series airliners onto the US market.  Whether this is simple posturing remains to be seen.  As of now, a Canadian Super Hornet purchase appears unlikely...  Interim or otherwise. The Government of Canada dropped another bombshell this week with the release of its new defence policy ( available here ).  In it are plans for Canada to increase its defence spending by a whopping 70% .  This would bring Canada's military spending up to...

Kakistocracy noun ,  plural   kakistocracies. 1. government   by   the   worst   persons;   a   form   of   government   in   which   the worst   persons   are   in   power. Well...  Here we are. The largest, most powerful, most technological advanced military in the world has a new Commander-in-Chief. This Commander-in-Chief campaigned on a premise of  American nationalism ,  isolationism , and  military build up .  He has promised to  ban immigration of an entire religion while forming a registry of those whom are already citizens .  He is a  climate-change denier .  He is a  racist .  He is an unabashed  misogynist  whose advances toward woman may be  sexual assault .   One would have hoped that Trump would have tempered his controversial ascension by surrounding himself with a less-controversial staff. ...

After more than a year of speculation, the Liberal government has announced its plan to replace the RCAF's aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets.  An election promise to walk away from the F-35, combined with promise to hold an open and fair competition meant there was going to be some sort of a shake-up. Things were shaken up even more when Harjit Sajjan, Canada's newly appointed Minister of Defence, announced that the RCAF's current CF-18 fleet was in worse condition then initially thought and that Canada was faced with a " capability gap ". Rumors circulated during the summer that Canada would announce the sole-source procurement of a small number of Super Hornets to be used as an interim solution.  This week, the Federal Government announced exactly that .  Canada will procure 18 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, followed shortly by a full and open fighter competition that will last approximately five years.  Canada will continue to act as a JSF industrial partner duri...

It's happening... In a news conference today, it was confirmed that Canada will indeed acquire 18 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.  The Super Hornet will act as an "interim" fighter alongside the current CF-18 fleet to help mitigate the "capability gap" as the current fleet flies long past its prime.  Canada will then conduct a "open and fair competition" to find a permanent CF-18 replacement for the late 2020s. Canadian government officials will immediately begin negotiations with Boeing and the US government to acquire 18 Super Hornets.  During this time, additional resources will be devoted to Canada's current CF-18 fleet to keep them flying and even expand their current role. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan clarified that Canada will remain on as a JSF partner for the time being. The full-blown fighter competition will occur upon the conclusion of Canada's Defence Policy Review that is currently underway.  Using that review as a guide, a n...

Don't buy into the propaganda. “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." -Theodore Roosevelt It has now been over a year since the Trudeau Liberal have assumed power in the Canadian parliament.  One year is an acceptable amount of time for all the new ministers and cabinet members to get up to speed on their new portfolios.  Now is the time to start making decisions.   For Canada's CF-18 replacement, the time for "industry consultation" is over.  The time has come to issue a statement of requirements, followed by selection.  Canada can no longer participate in Schrödinger's fighter program, where it is both a JSF partner and not at the same time.  It is now time to make the final decision.   That decision should be to leave the JSF program and declare an open competition.   There has never been a more sensible time for Canada should say "Thanks, but no...

Get ready... [ Note:  I take little joy in this post.  As much as I would like to discuss fighter jets, Trump's election will have a profound effect on Canada's defence policy.  There is no ignoring the big, orange elephant in the room.  That being said, let us get this out of the way .] Full disclaimer:  I am no fan of Trump.  He in a privileged, obnoxious demagogue who somehow manipulated enough of the American public to become their President-elect.  For years he has cultivated his brand into the point of a cult of personality.  His election strategy was based on hate, scapegoating, and xenophobia.  Whether or not this continues into his presidency remains to be seen.  I, like many Canadians, find Trump and his rhetoric abhorrent.  He is a hypocrite the very personification of the "elitist" that he has demonized in his calls to "drain the swamp". Donald Trump is everything ugly about America. He is now their President-e...

[NOTE:  As much as I enjoy discussing politics, I am loathe to do so on this blog.  That goes double for American politics.  Like most Canadians, however, I have an EXTREME dislike for the 2016 GOP presidential candidate.  To me, he embodies the worst that America has to offer.  Obnoxious, arrogant, bloviating...  He is the living stereotype of the crass American that Canadians fear they will get stuck sitting next to on a transatlantic flight.  I will attempt to stay focused here...  But please forgive me if I run off the rails.] As the 2016 American election comes to a close, most are breathing a sigh of relief that Donald Trump's chances of becoming the next President of the United States of America are becoming progressively slimmer .  A controversial nominee from the very start of his political career (and  even before ), Trump's presidential campaign has been marred by charges of racism and sexual misconduct. Normally, brag...

And so it begins...  Again... The Canadian Government has taken its first step towards (hopefully) restarting its quest to find a suitable replacement for the CF-18. The " CF-18 REPLACEMENT INDUSTRY CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRE " was answered by five aerospace companies (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Saab, Eurofighter, and Dassault) regarding their respected fighters. Earlier reports that the Canadian government may sole-source an "interim" Super Hornet buy were met with sharp criticism (not from me) that doing so would break a Liberal election promise to hold an fair and open fighter competition.  Selecting a sole-source Super Hornet as an interim solution would make it all but inevitable for a full purchase.  Even if a different fighter was selected afterward, the additional costs of operating a diversified fighter fleet would cause financial stress. [NOTE:  I believe the interim Super Hornet idea may have been intentionally "leaked" to gauge reactio...