BEST FIGHTER FOR CANADA

I can't understand why MacKay didn't want to be Minister of Defense anymore! With rumors that the fighter jet "reset" process might finally be winding down soon , I thought I'd make some wild speculations as to what might happen. I'm going to do so based mostly on political motivations, not on whether something is truly a wise choice.  The current Conservative government hasn't had it easy in the public eye over the last year, what with senate scandals , spending cuts , library closures , and other silliness.  Keeping this in mind, and the fact that an election will likely be called for 2015, I'm going to assume that 2014 will be the year that the ruling Conservatives try to appeal to their base, as well as undecided voters.  To do so, they will need to do the following. Give the appearance of being fiscally responsible.   Support the military. Convince voters that they have made sound decisions while in power. The CF-18 replacement is ...

December 12, 2012:  Peter MacKay gets a headache. One year ago today , Canada's plan to buy 65 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets was "reset" under concerns of costs and suitability.  The federal government promised a "National Fighter Jet Procurement Secretariat" that would do a in depth look at all the options available and come up with a plan to purchase the  best fighter for Canada. So, what has happened in the last year to bring Canada closer to a proper CF-18 replacement? Okay.  Maybe a  little more  than that.  But not much. FEBRUARY 22nd The  entire F-35 fleet was grounded  over concerns about crack found in the engine.  This was determined to be a "minor" issue, and the fleet was eventually cleared for flight again. FEBRUARY 25th Time magazine publishes an in depth look at the " Most Expensive Weapon Ever Built ".  While the article doesn't focus on Canada's involvement with the JSF pro...

For when you've made a bad decision... With the continued threat of US military budget cuts, upper brass at the Pentagon is finally starting to come around to the simple truth...  Current fighter fleets are soldiering on well past their prime, and are requiring life extension programs and upgrades to remain effective.  The JSF is still years away from operational status, with all signs pointing to further delays , and there is a very real possibility of outright cancelation . Reality is setting in...  They might need to find an alternative to the F-35. Their simply isn't time or resources to build an all new design.  The F/A-XX is still years away from any flying prototype, and securing funding for such an undertaking may prove to be a challenge in and of itself.  Any "plan B" will have to be an existing design, or, at the very least, heavily derived from one. USN Super, and Super Duper Hornets. Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. This one is ea...

Dassault Rafale Dassault Vice-President Yves Robins spoke at the AIAC Aerospace Summit a few days ago, and had a few words directed at Canada's new Minister of Public Works and Government Services Diane Finley. Robins mentioned RAFALE International's (the consortium of French companies responsible for the Rafale) business dealings with Canadian defense and aerospace firms to the tune of $4.3 billion.  Robins then went on about Dassault submission to Canada's National Fighter Procurement Secretariat, placing a high emphasis on Canadian economic benefits if it chooses the Rafale over the F-35. Dassault has promised a guaranteed 100% economic offset on the purchase price, common for most large-scale military purchases.  There is no offset guarantee with the F-35 however, merely the opportunity for Canadian companies to bid on JSF contracts; this means we can win big, lose big, or make even...  Depending on the whims of the market. Dassault also has offered somethi...

Canada's military procurement.  A few hits, but mostly misses.   Canada's military procurement strategy lately seems to beg the question:  "Does Canada have a military procurement strategy?" Big ticket items, like fighter jets, helicopters, and even a new headquarters seem almost unobtainable thanks to controversy, cost overruns and delays.  In the meantime, the Canadian Armed Forces are left wondering when the new equipment will arrive, if ever. How bad is it?  Some have compared it to a Monty Python movie. The Sea King replacement:  Going on 30 years of searching... The most notorious example, the Sea King replacement, has now been in the works since 1983.  It's one time designated replacement, the EH101, was canned by the Chretien government back in 1993, and the program was put on the back burner until the mid-1990s.  Finally, in 2004, a militarized version of the Sikorsky S-92 Cougar, dubbed the CH-148 Cyclone, was selected....

"Anybody know where I can find a job?" It's good to know a retired RCAF officer need not rely strictly on his or her modest pension after retirement.  There are plenty of other jobs in the private or public sector for those with the experience and credentials. Take Lt. General Charles Bouchard for instance, just slightly over a year (the mandatory "cooling off period) after his retirement from the RCAF, Bouchard has now been chosen as the new boss in charge of Lockheed Martin's operations in Canada.  Quite the prestigious, and no doubt well compensated position. Does the name sound familiar?  It should, Bouchard led NATO forces during the bombing runs over Libya a few years back.  While the actual benefits of that action are debatable , the operation itself went off rather smoothly.   But perhaps you heard the name somewhere else, maybe more recently? Back in December 2012, when the damning KPMG report prompted the Canadian federal govern...

A billion dollar fighter? A recent article in the Hill Times (pay wall, sorry) states that total operating costs for the F-35 could reach $71 billion under a "worst case scenario".  Basically, the previous figure of $46 billion for 65 jets over 42 years could very well creep up depending on currency fluctuation, delays in production, or other unforeseen events.  This figures out to $1.09 billion per aircraft, over its lifetime in the RCAF. Yikes. Mind you, a lot of these factors would likely increase the price of ANY aircraft, but so much about the F-35's eventual cost is up in the air.  This uncertainty was the primary reason for its disqualification from South Korea's fighter selection , as well as giving other countries second thoughts.   Testing is still problematic,  and U.S. Government funding isn't exactly a sure thing right now . Even the $9 billion slotted to buy the initial 65 aircraft is looking overly optimistic , with the estimated cost q...