Quote:
Originally Posted by Zulu29
The Hawk is a trainer aircraft on loan to the CF, not sure where you're going there...
What issues will the Eurofighter have? It's already flying and seen combat. The F-35 is a flying lemon that has had setback after setback, cost the conservativs big political points and ran way over budget. Besides, even if we were to get the F-35 it's not like 65 jets would make a big difference anyway. The comms system doesn't work in the arctic and it loses stealth as soon as it carries an external weapon or fuel pod.
Canada doesn't need to be doing stealth first strike missions anyway. Leave that to the US, we need some aircraft for the same tasks as Libya and Bosnia. We also need them for sovereignty patrols. Get a cheaper aircraft and get more of them.
|
The Hawk is not on loan, they were bought by DND funds and at the end of the day are owned by DND.
I was just getting at the logistics issues with something from europe, and the fact that buying the plane is only half the story. After sales parts supply is ridiculously expensive, and prices are not set in stone. Parts prices routinely double triple or worse over the life of the aircraft.
Also, these planes are old. It's not just the airframe, but all the technology inside, and not just avionics. At it's core the Hawk is a very old airplane, and it shows. You have no idea what it is going to take, and the extra money we are going to spend, just to get the Hawk to the 20 year mark. You want the same in a fighter jet? You only get to make this purchase once for the next 30 years, why would you start with something that's already 10-20 years old?