Quote:
Originally Posted by Byrns
I'm still not convinced that Canada requires a stealth aircraft based on our historical conflicts. We typically involve ourselves in NATO/UN coalitions with the support of the Americans. Canada isn't a unilateral aggressor, and if someone (Russia or USA) chooses to invade us we cannot stop them with 65 F35s.
Personally I think the money would be better spent purchasing a combination of new Super Hornets (our pilots and mechanics are already trained), drones, and helicopters.
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As Canada is taking a more active role in international combat zones, it works to our advantage to be able to use our pilots and our planes when possible. With the technology acceleration of aircraft and anti aircraft technology caused by the aggressive sale of these products by the Russians and the Chinese in combination with the fact that your only buying combat aircraft once every 20 years, you do have to purchase ahead of the curve instead of behind or at the curve. Purchasing the Super hornet and utilizing it for 20 years would be purchasing behind the curve.
Also its not like you can just buy the Super Hornet and just toss your pilots and ground crews into that plane straight from the Hornet.
The super hornet is a significantly different aircraft then the CF-18 that we fly now. The airframe, powerplant, avionics, ECM, weapons deployment system, weapons load outs, and handling are different. For all purposes the transition would be the same whether you bought the super hornet or you bought the F-35