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Originally Posted by MarchHare
Our forces absolutely need replacement fighters in the next 5-10 years, but I'm not convinced buying the best and most expensive option available to us makes sense (on a single-sourced no-bid contract at that!). Harper seems hell-bent on buying the F-35 when our defense needs might be just as capably met with a more modest option (like the Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, etc.). Unless we have an open competition with multiple bidders and evaluate all options on a combination of mission capabilities and price, we'll never know for sure that Canadian tax payers are getting the best value for their money on our new fighter purchase.
And does ANYONE still believe Harper's claim that the program will cost $75 million per plane?
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Wasn't the order a multi-national one that Canada jumped on board with?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10667633
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The planes will be the fifth generation of Joint Strike Fighters. Canada has worked with the US on the development of these fighter planes for over a decade.
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Emphasis mine. Obviously this isn't something that was just cooked up in the past year.
http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collectio.../prb0207-e.htm
(Doc from 2002)
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Canada’s participation began in 1997, when it gained the status of informed partner upon making a US$10 million commitment to Phase 1, the Concept Demonstration Phase. Unlike the United Kingdom, Canada did not announce plans to buy the JSF since its CF-18s are expected to remain in service until about 2017. Indeed, the radars and other systems of the CF-18s are currently being modernized to ensure that the aircraft can effectively carry out operations for another decade.
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Development of these planes started under Chretien, and only now is the commitment to buy them. Obviously there are still options, but let's make sure to know that this wasn't a whim decision.
http://www.acus.org/natosource/canad...h-fighter-jets
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The purchase will reportedly occur in tandem with plans by the US government to buy 2,443 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II jets.
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The Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Norway, and Australia are also partners in the fifth generation F-35 program, and Mackay said: "A large number of our allies are moving to purchase this same aircraft."
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Volume discount?