Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
The Turks ordered the F-35A's which are slightly different then the CF-35's.
The in air refueling drogue is customized and we have a tail hook requirement for short runway use. As well the software will be slightly different. Canada also uses a unique paint scheme that would be done by MD for us.
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Beggars can't be choosy. Knock 10% off the price to take over the Turkish quota and watch DND issue the "Shut up an take my money memes".
I kid of course. JT needs to have his flyoff to validate the decision politcally. Unless Boeing and the others all bail on the flyoff like they've threatened to. That gives JT the latitude to jump on an F-35 bargain like Chiarelli on a bad deal.
From what Wiki tells me, the CF-35 is based on the F-35A but would adopt the USN's probe and drogue in flight refueling system along with a drag chute for short runway landings. The C variant just loses too much in performance and payload. Sounds do-able as a retrofit, though as with anything F-35 related it'll cost a gazillion dollars per frame to do so.