Posted on 09/04/2014 9:34:21 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
(Reuters) - Canada is likely to choose between two major U.S. firms when it buys a new fleet of jet fighters, excluding two European competitors, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 stealth fighter and Boeing Co's F-18 E/F Super Hornet were deemed more suitable for the variety of tasks the military has laid out.
The source said that while the F-35 had scored well on the various tests laid out by the military, the Super Hornet was almost as capable and had the advantage of being cheaper.
If so, the choice would mean the widely expected elimination of Dassault Aviation SA's Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly made by BAE Systems PLC, Finmeccanica SpA and Airbus Group NV.
The fighter selection has proven enormously problematic for Canada's Conservative government, which in 2012 scrapped a sole-sourced plan to buy 65 F-35s for C$9 billion ($8.3 billion) after a parliamentary watchdog savaged the decision.
Ottawa then set up a special secretariat to compare the merits of the four contenders. It is deciding whether to hold a competition or go ahead with the initial plan to buy F-35s, which could prompt accusations that it was acting in bad faith.
The secretariat was not asked to make a recommendation about which jet to buy, but the new revelations will likely bolster the increasing conviction in Ottawa and Washington that the F-35 remains the front runner.
Richard Aboulafia, analyst with Virginia-based Teal Group, said further delays in a Canadian decision could push any possible order beyond the order window that Boeing would need to maintain the Super Hornet line, now slated to close in 2017.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
As long as it is not the F-35, I’m happy. Canada does not need first strike capability.
Canada is smart to work on defending itself. They can’t count on the U.S. any more with Obama in charge.
they should follow Australia. Australia bought the super hornet while waiting for the f35, which are upgradable to growlers. So when f35 is available, they have growlers and f35. To be honest, Australia should scrap f35 entirely. Too expensive
Canada Ping!
They ought to buy a Eurofighter or a Rafale. They are second or third to a Raptor in capability and they have two engines in case one fails over the vastness of Canadian territory. Why buy older tech?
We should go with the beefed up f-18, the f-35 is not all it’s cracked up to be.
As for the first strike capability. You never take any options off the table. Only a suicidal country would limit themselves in their ability to make war.
Those planes lack the range too, and as you know, Canada has a lot of territory to cover.
If they were really smart in Ottawa, they’d just buy the latest version of the F-15.
and that option was a waste of money.
Yes we do. As I've stated since I don't know when, I don't think you'll ever see the F-35 Edsel in mass production. Buy the latest version of the Super Hornet. That'll do us until the right fighter comes along.
Be nice if they put F-22 into production again, that would be the obvious choice.
The Gripen is the only aircraft with “ice road” performance.
It would be the right aircraft to be stationed somewhere far in the north in case of some disputes about the arctic.
Agreed. But the RCAF is not very resourceful or innovative, but they are bilingual, able to die in two languages.
The Gripen would be an ideal A/C for Canada.
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