Crimea_River
Marshal
There will be at least 2 more governments before an order is made so predictions are meaningless.
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The Canadian missions will be the usual two; first, operating under conditions of overwhelming air superiority to drop bombs on some despotic African or Middle Eastern nation as part of some UN or NATO project; second, flying around Canada on training flights and the occasional patrol to wave off wandering Tupolevs. Both are missions we could do with HAL Tejas Mk. 1 ($23 million USD each).In what capacity? The Super Hornet is a very capable aircraft (and will actually complement the F-35C) but there's many things it can't do when compared to the F-35. Remember the game has changed and it's no longer about dogfighting or going over mach 1.
The smaller parties do not want an election during Covid. The next federal election must take place on or before October 16, 2023. My guess is Trudeau is going to call an election in spring 2022. He'll win a majority and the fighter procurement can carry on without a change of government setting us back again.There will be at least 2 more governments before an order is made so predictions are meaningless.
The Canadian missions will be the usual two; first, operating under conditions of overwhelming air superiority to drop bombs on some despotic African or Middle Eastern nation as part of some UN or NATO project; second, flying around Canada on training flights and the occasional patrol to wave off wandering Tupolevs. Both are missions we could do with HAL Tejas Mk. 1 ($23 million USD each).
However it is the debacle with the Lockheed's CH-148 Cyclone on both quality and delivery, plus the Cyclone's recent fatal crash, and the company's lawsuit against Canada in its warship procurement project that is making Canadian politicians look increasingly unfavorably at Lockheed-Martin.
That is splitting hairs, but sure. Sikorsky delivered the first six CH-148 before Lockheed-Martin took over - these six, plus two aircraft delivered by L-M in December 2015 were for training purposes only. The operational aircraft deploying to the RCN frigates, including the one that crashed off Greece were all L-M products. Besides, L-M presumably acquired the production facilities and employees, the engineers and designers of Sikorsky, so they also assume the liabilities. I imagine a formal statement from L-M after the crash that... "our hands are clean, this is someone else's screwup" wouldn't do their case for the F-35 any good.The CH-148 is made by Sikorsky. In July 1929, Sikorsky became a part of United Aircraft and Transport Corporation (later United Technologies Corporation). Lockheed-Martin purchased Sikorsky from UTC in November 2015.
The Canadian order was placed in 2004, first flight was 2008, the first "interim standard" CH-148 were delivered to the Canadian military in June 2015. IOC was declared in June 2018.
So the only thing L-M can be tagged with is "overseeing the successful entry into service of the CH-148 Cyclone"! Anything before the end of 2015 is "someone else's screwup"!
Agree to a point - when you purchase another company, you inherit their liabilities, but...That is splitting hairs, but sure. Sikorsky delivered the first six CH-148 before Lockheed-Martin took over - these six, plus two aircraft delivered by L-M in December 2015 were for training purposes only. The operational aircraft deploying to the RCN frigates, including the one that crashed off Greece were all L-M products. Besides, L-M presumably acquired the production facilities and employees, the engineers and designers of Sikorsky, so they also assume the liabilities. I imagine a formal statement from L-M after the crash that... "our hands are clean, this is someone else's screwup" wouldn't do their case for the F-35 any good.
But the Canadian government is not going to split the hairs you identify. L-M's helicopter killed six CAF members, L-M sued the Canada because it lost the warship competition. Meanwhile Boeing has almost 2,000 employees in Canada and in a strategic region (the west) where the Liberals need votes. Quebec and the Maritimes already have warship projects, and Ontario can be ignored as we vote Liberal by default. PM Trudeau has already voiced opposition to the F-35, and L-M's crash and lawsuit might seal the coffin..... my guess is Canada announces the F-18 Super Hornet in 2021.
Oh dammit you're right, time for a time out I think.I thought they WON the competition...
Hopefully Putin's Ukrainian adventure will encourage Trudeau to expedite the fighter buy. And just make it the F-35 FFS, it's become the defacto NATO and friendly state fighter. And buy some AIP subs.There will be at least 2 more governments before an order is made so predictions are meaningless.
F-35 wins! Canada Chooses F-35A in Future Fighter Competition - Defense DailyThen at the end of the day, if anything but the F-35 is chosen, does Canada get the boot as an F-35 partner nation?
I believe an article mentioned first planned deliveries in 2025.F-35 wins! Canada Chooses F-35A in Future Fighter Competition - Defense Daily
With Russia shaking the cobwebs of complacency across NATO and everyone rushing to upgrade their air forces I wonder what the lead time for F-35As for Canada will be. I expect the last CF-18 will retire in the early 2030s, over fifty years since it entered service - akin to taking a 1916 Sopwith Camel into the 1966+ Vietnam War. As for the size of the fleet, is there any other nation with a lower fighter to square km of territory ratio?
But no matter, it's good news. Now let's get the Halifax and Victoria classes replaced ASAP. AFAIk there's been zero chatter on the latter.