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Originally Posted by Locke
Sorry to intrude on the discussion but I'd like to ask specifically because I think I'm missing something:
Why are these fighters so controversial? What would make the Liberals adamant not to buy them? Am I correct in assuming that the previous Federal Government was going to buy them?
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The previous government was on the track to purchase them, it was part of their next generation airforce plans, which was also put in place to stop the rust out of the airforce which was rapidly approaching. I'll go more into it later but the strategy was to get leading edge aircraft and reduce the overall size of the airforce. They picked the F-35 for mainly technical reasons.
But before we start, I want to travel back a bit
Background
In 1977 the Government decided to replace the entire airforce. At the time it was made up of a collection of CF-104 Starfighters (Nuclear capable), the CF-101 Voodoo and the CF-116 Freedom fighter. They decided that the prudent strategy was to go with one multi-role fighter that could act as an interceptor, a dog fighter and a bomber. Because of this they decided on the best plane on the planet to fill all three roles and decided on the CF-18 hornet (electric bug). At the time the F-18 was considered to be the best up and coming plane in the world. The Canadian government purchased 138 of the Planes or about 10 operational squadrons at a cost of $35 million dollars a copy, which adjusted to todays dollars would work out to about $145 million dollars today using the CPI Inflation claculation.
The original delivery of 80 was broken into 62 single seat versions and 18 duel seat instructors. Canada also requested some design modifications including a night identification system and a custom paintjob including a simulated cockpit on the bottom.
So we move to today.
The CF-18 which is not about 40 years old has hit the end of life. Both in turns of the structure of the plane and in terms of its upgradability, its also woefully behind the next generation of fighters that are coming onto the market.
Today
In order for Canada to procure a new airforce at a reasonable price it was decided that the airforce should be smaller, they would purchase 60 aircraft which would reduce what is supposed to be an active air force of 80+ planes.
In order to do this they decided that these should be the next generation or Gen 5 aircraft, which would give the pilots maximum survivability in the modern battlefield.
The F-35 came to the fore front first of all because of its stealth aspect. The day and age of the eyeball to eyeball dog fight is ending. Planes are now designed to either shoot over the horizon, but also be able to sneak up on the enemy and punch it in the ass. On top of that because of the Canadian requirement for a modern fighter bomber the f-35 would give it a better chance to get into a bombing area and escape alive. There's also been a change of philosophy whereas planes like the CF-18 were bomb trucks that carried heavy ordinance, the modern fighter bomber is designed to carry less ordinance but that ordinance is either high precision, or high area ordinance.
The biggest advantage for Canada in terms of the F-35 is its advanced electronics suite and inter-operability with other F-35's and military assets such as ships or tanks or soldiers in the field.
In other words a F-35 in Calgary could see everything that an F-35 in the arctic could see, or ship in the pacific, or tank on the ground in Suffield. In the old days this was accomplished through air and ground controllers and radio. While this still happens, it allows for better co-operation between units, and its something that the F-35 does better then any other plane available with the exception of planes like the Raptor, and the next gen Chinese and Russian planes, but only because we don't know what their capabilities are.
The other big thing with the F-35 besides its stealth capability is the situational awareness of the pilots own space, in otherwords its almost like flying in Wonder woman's invisible jet, you can literally see through the plane with the advanced helmet which allows for near 360 degree awareness and lockon, and idea stolen from the Russians Fulcrum helmet.
In terms of the Planes cost, its estimated that they would cost $148 million including operating costs.
If we look at the other planes that are in the bidding
the French Rafale - A decent plane but more made as a straight fighter but with some bomber capability. While its a good plane, its not really stealthy besides some work on reducing its infrared signature. When Canada looked at it prior to the F-35 commitment, they noted that it wouldn't interoperate with Norad that well and it had engine cold weather start up issues. On top of that it costs $101 million per plane not including the operational costs attached to the F-35.
The Euro-fighter typhoon is a excellent fighter bomber, While its not stealth it has radar reduction. It also has an excellent radar suite and is designed to carry the next generation anti-air and air to ground systems. Its a very maneuverable aircraft, probably more so then the F-35 but less so then the new SU-30. Again there are concerns about its interoperability. The plane has a price tag of about 90 million per copy in euros which in Canadian dollars would be about 100 million per copy not including operational costs.
The Saab J-39 Gripen E - A brilliant fighter plane, its considered a smart fighter in that its easy to fly. In terms of weapons carrying capability, its a light weight, with a max take off weight of about 31,000 pounds compared to the F-35's 70,000 lbs. It also won't interoperate with US assets without some major modifications, again its low observable but not stealth. Its more designed to be a fighter then a fighter bomber, though it can do both. Its the cheapest of the bunch at about $75 million but falls the furthest away from the Canadian Air Force next generation requirements.
Anyways just my 2 cents.