Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
At this point, Harpers F-35 purchases would have been a far cheaper option than what the Libs are doing. I'm sure they're still paying out the yearly tens of millions to stay in the F-35 buyers list, Paying how many billion for some used up Aussie F-18 Super hornets, on top of using tax payer money to further fund the "search" for a replacement.
Seems Canada is so very skittish about procuring from anywhere but the U.S because it might hurt the U.S military industrial complexs feelings.
I voted Liberal because the F-35 at the time wasn't justifying the costs. But this is a whole new nightmare.
Also, did the Government not have a shiip building contract fiasco we're paying for too? loss of a building contract for the navy for some supply ships or some such thing where we outsourced the build over seas?
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I was onboard with the purchase of the F-35 from the start, and stayed on board.
If people go back in history and look at the development of the F-18 Hornet, it had a ton of technical issues that marred its development.
The one benefit of the wait that's unintended was that the cost per plane on the F-35 will come in at about $85 million dollars per plane thanks to the increase in production and roll out.
When you compare it to the other planes in the contest.
The F-18 Super Hornet
The Eurofighter
The Gripen F
The Eurofighter is being marketed at about $95 million euro's per plane. The Gripen 39 NG will be about $70 million per plane, the Super Hornet is about $70 million per plane.
Frankly in terms of interoperability, sensors and stealthiness none of those other options compare to the F-35.
At the other end of the argument if you're going to have a tiny airforce, would it not be logical to buy at the bleeding edge of technology especially since this country tends to run things way beyond its self life.
The Gripen and the F-18 are not in the same class as the F-35, especially when you consider the future upgrade path of the F-35.
This whole thing has been about political points and not about what's best for the men and woman who protect this country.
If they buy anything but the F-35 then I have to question how they arrived at that decision. But then again our defense minister beyond being dishonest is terrible at his job.