don't ya see! If red X above go to http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/1/6a2623cd-8307-4091-8145-e298911d650f.Large.jpg
Why not get Block 60 F-16 E/F?
Author compares F-35A without external hard points to Gripen with external hard points.
In some cases Stealth is not important (say, after day 10 of a conflict) then a valid comparison would compare F-35 with external stores to Gripen. First days of a conflict Gripen would have to hunker down and wait in dispersed and camouflaged hides, and only after that, come up to fight with what was left. Lower cost of a Gripen fleet has to be weighed against the fraction lost in the first days of a conflict, and the damage that the inability of the Gripen fleet in high threat initial conflict.
I think it would be easier for the RCAF to transition from Hornets to Super Hornets.
Canada probably should go the Super Hornet like Australia did. Being a current Hornet user, the costs of going from classic Hornet to Super is minimal, the capability improvements are pretty good (especially if they get some Growlers in the mix), and the logistic tail hooks into the USN system.
Neither the Gripen nor the F-16 Block 60 would solve that problem. Canada's best option would be the Super Hornet.
As for the article, it seems to be grasping at every negative straw. For example:
The F-35A also cannot carry the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile as it does not fit in the internal weapons bay. It can be equipped on one of the external hardpoints, but this greatly diminishes what little stealth advantage the F-35A enjoys.So the AGM-65 has to be carried externally, reducing the F-35A's stealth, so instead let's buy an aircraft that has no stealth at any time with any load?
Good friend of mine recently bought a Saab automobile. Cost him almost $50K. Then Saab closed their auto business. He can’t trade it in for more than $20K, now. Meanwhile, cost of parts has skyrocketed.
Go ahead, Canada. Buy Saab.
Thanks for this posting.
What is eye opening about this review is the operational costs beyond the initial purchase these things run Kyle Meema presents early on in his comparison report. To me it’s a must read for anyone who wishes to comment about defence purchases and a “atta boy” sukoi for picking this up and posting in FR’s.
And being a SAAB, the ignition key is mounted on the floorboard below the joystick.
Canada needs four types of aircraft:
1) The Saab JAS39 Gripen E
2) The A-10 Warthog
3) An AWACS capable aircraft.
4) A small fleet of super tankers.
If they buy it, they'll be gripen'.