Saab's told Canada to eff off for the time being but may come back into play if Canada elects to hold a competition (which IMO is wasting time but is probably the best idea).
Rafale has lost bids and is looking at dropping prices for their wares but production has slowed for them. But they need business. I wish I had the links to back this up but I don't.
CF-18 Super Hornet thinks it's the best option (Boring). And some are thinking that this is what Canada will end up getting if they don't do either of a) buy the F-35 or b) hold an open competition.
I've read somewhere else that the cost of acquisition of the F-35 could drop to 45 million per plane soon. Which would help. Again, that may just be the special just for america price.
Eurofighter has some pretty sweet upgrades coming down the pipes and some feel with the new free trade agreement with the EU that the Euro fighter is the best option going forward even if it may cost a little more in the short term.
I still feel Saab is the best option but Rafale and Eurofighter are a close second. Unless Canada can get in on the reduced pricing for the F-35 of course, then I cannot see how Canada passes up a better deal on the F-35.
That all being said, Canada is STILL no closer to figuring out what they want. They should probably get on that sooner rather than later.
I wouldn't be the slightest dissapointed if they chose the Rafale. I always wondered why it wasn't a more serious contender. But then again, I love it because I just think it looks awesome. I think looking awesome is pretty far down the list of why you buy a fighter jet.
I wouldn't be the slightest dissapointed if they chose the Rafale. I always wondered why it wasn't a more serious contender. But then again, I love it because I just think it looks awesome. I think looking awesome is pretty far down the list of why you buy a fighter jet.
IIRC Rafale doesn't have the NATO compatible weapon mounts or some such thing. Which measn when you buy Rafales, you have to buy all the weapons from them as well. But I think with Dassault on a slow down they may change that up.
I'm not a fan of the Rafale or the Super hornet or the Saab. The Rafale isn't a great all purpose fighter and carries a relatively light load compared to something like the F-18 super hornet. It think its about half the capacity. From everything I've seen it doesn't match up with Nato Ordinance.
Because of Canada's procurement curve and expected lifespan of fighters, the F-18 is behind the curve of what they need to buy.
The Saab is a really nice fighter but it doesn't have the bomb capability of the Superhornet and Canada needs that considering that the size of our airforce is going to shrink with this purchase.
We need the best possible fighter with the best advantages in the fewest numbers.
Right now the Super hornet is about 66 million bucks per copy, the Rafale is about 60 million bucks per copy and the Saab is close to 60 million bucks per copy.
If the F-35 comes in at 46 to 60 million and they solve the avionics issues which in the last report I read in October talked about 719 problems and a lot of them already being solved then you buy the F-35.
Well, deal with it. I wasn't cheering for Canada either way. Nothing worse than arrogant Canadian fans. They'd be lucky to finish 4th. Quote me on that. They have a bad team and that is why I won't be cheering for them.
I wouldn't be the slightest dissapointed if they chose the Rafale. I always wondered why it wasn't a more serious contender. But then again, I love it because I just think it looks awesome. I think looking awesome is pretty far down the list of why you buy a fighter jet.
One thing that the public never seems to consider, or hear about, is after sale support. Not just parts supply, but engineering support.
You really want to be local on that, it is a pita dealing with companies overseas, sole suppliers, etc. At least the US and Canada have a well established working relationship and it's relatively easy operate after the sale.
Even if it were possible to buy them, I couldn't imagine how the russian's could provide adequate support which would satisfy DTA's strict requirements. The brits have been very difficult to deal with, and the cost of spare parts is astronomical.
One thing that the public never seems to consider, or hear about, is after sale support. Not just parts supply, but engineering support.
You really want to be local on that, it is a pita dealing with companies overseas, sole suppliers, etc. At least the US and Canada have a well established working relationship and it's relatively easy operate after the sale.
Even if it were possible to buy them, I couldn't imagine how the russian's could provide adequate support which would satisfy DTA's strict requirements. The brits have been very difficult to deal with, and the cost of spare parts is astronomical.
Canada's new fighter jets thread v2.0
