Canada is a big place with a small population. There is a lot to be said for a fast, long ranged aircraft. Inevitably, this would be a big, twin engined aircraft. The F-35 meets our NATO commitments. It does not protect Canadian sovereignty.
Errr...technically by meeting NATO commitments it does help protect Canadian sovereignty...
Also, what other platform do you think would do a better job?
Canada has a requirement for a national interceptor. Since it is primarily defensive, stealth is not important. The requirement would be for range, speed, manoeuverability, and good electronics. Australia has similar requirements, and might be interested in participating in the project. I am not sold on stealth technology. People are claiming that they can detect stealth aircraft. Stealth is nice if it does not cost you anything, but if it increases cost and reduces performance and view out of the aircraft, it might not be a good deal.
You obviously don't understand where "stealth" comes into play. The combination of technologies/techniques/tactics that is commonly referred to as Stealth or Low Observability (LO) is nothing new. Almost as long as there have been fights, people have been looking for ways to gain an advantage over their counterparts. When we were relying on visual detection methods only, we relied on technologies such as camouflage or misleading paint schemes or tactics such as diving out of the sun. When radar became more prevalent, the idea of flying below the radar gained popularity. Now days, when we are applying these new LO technologies we are doing so because they remove some of the limitations of the past – therefore a modern combat aircraft with modern LO technologies applied is able to fly at medium altitude which increases range and also reduces pilot fatigue or potential for attack by guns/flak. So in essence, modern LO technologies are not in fact compromising a platform, rather they are in actual fact expanding its potential/capabilities/usefulness!
To go even further, one needs to revisit the concept of the
OODA loop - the operator (pilot or just as equally SAM operator or Tank Commander or Infantry soldier or Submarine Captain or…) who is able to
Observe the enemy first, and who are able to
Orientate themselves first and then
Decide faster before finally
Acting, all faster then their enemy, will win the engagement.
So what does this have to do with LO/Stealth? Well, if the enemy can't see you or if they are not able to fully discern which way you are headed or whether you are friend or foe until it is too late then that could provide the few extra minutes or even seconds necessary to get in a first shot. The OODA Loop is what it is really all about here!
This is also just as relevant for Defence as for attack.
And BTW, this has also been proven with the likes of F-35s defeating F-15s etc numerous times in exercises.
A stealthy aircraft cannot use its radio, its radar, its LiDAR, or anything else we can detect.
Have you heard of low-probability-of-intercept comms or radar?
www.twz.com
www.radartutorial.eu
