>The Canadian government will pay the next financial instalment to continue its participation as a partner in the F-35 programme
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/2016/03/05/canadian-participation-f-35-program-remains-murky/81202784/
Gosh Canada, make up your mind!
I would prefer they buy the Super Gripen, but if they are set on the F-35, just fucking buy the damn things already.
>joining af as avionics tech
Hopefully I'll get to look inside one of these things and find out why they're worth a trillion dollars
>>55976498
>Gripen
So you guys have truly lost all of your self respect
>>55976584
Gripen is a good lad 2bh
It depends what they want the air force to do. F-35 is an attacker's plane. The stealth is about closing in on the enemy before they see you, or being unnoticed on their ground-based defensive radar.
If Canada wants to be attack overseas in the future, F-35 would be the best choice. If all they want to do is defend North American air space, then it's not necessary. Gripen would do that job fine.
>>55976584
Let's see.
>stealth
We don't need it. USA has it, we just support after they break down the door. Gone if you mount external payloads anyway.
>speed
Can supercruise or go over mach 2 in a sprint, which is useful since we tend to intercept a lot of Russian garbage over the arctic.
>running costs
Vastly vastly vastly lower than F-35. We can buy more and train with them longer. Also, it uses an upgraded version of the engine used on the F-18, so conversion training will be easy for mechanics.
>weapons
Accepts pretty much every weapon NATO uses and has about the same payload as the F-35.
Aside from that, it's made for and by a country with similar weather/conditions for Canada. That means tough landing gear and short landings/takeoffs. No Gripen has ever had an engine failure either. I'm a pilot whose written an essay on this shit, I'm pretty confident that the Gripen is the best choice.
>>55976498
>not wanting the Super Duper Hornet instead
>>55976919
Just to be clear, I'm talking about the Gripen E/Gripen NG. Plenty capable, not just a sidegrade.
B-BUY RAFALES... pliz
>>55977095
>proprietary software and munitions
>sold the Mistral-class boats to fucking egypt instead of us
Get fucked, frog.
>>55976804
>>55976919
Memes aside, wouldn't the ASH be a more logical option ?
Less conversion costs, similar maintenance, it would be a smooth ride
>>55976384
They do this because they make huge profit on the contracts. $1 billion are signed with Canadian companies as of 2015.
So just pay the $40 mil and keep saying you're part of the program, but then after all the contracts are signed, back out. Pocket the extra tax money from the contracts and buy something else.
Smart play.
>>55977095
We're buying some of your new Aster missiles for our destroyers
its literally my dream to one day work at lockheed martin.
I want some of that delicious f-35 gibsmedats
>>55977875
>yfw based Northrop is making a comeback
lets go back to fun times with piston driven aircraft and only cannons lads
>>55979851
Northtrop is still the undisputed king of flying wing bombers
>>55977095
t. Rafale-chan
>>55977199
Maybe, but I forsee the base Super Hornet as being the most likely option. It's cheap as hell and has similar conversion advantages.
>>55976997
Just didn't sound like much of an upgrade to me, like we'd have to replace them sooner.
>>55980617
But if they want to skip 5th gen altogether they're going to need new airframes at some point, and I'm not sure if Super Hornets are still being produced.
>>55980830
They are, we're still buying them.
>>55980850
Alright then. Is it possible to upgrade from SH to ASH ?
If so, then yeah, it would be Canada's best option imo
>>55980983
It's a completely different airframe, so nope. It has stealth enhancements, CFT, and a weapons bay, can't upgrade that.
>>55976804
>If all they want to do is defend North American air space
HAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAA
HOLY SHIT MY SIDES
>>55977875
I had a friend work at Lockheed Martin
He was a project manager
He later put his project management skills to work for a property developer (completely unrelated field) and he's now loaded.
>>55981242
What?
>>55981363
>Canada
>Defending NA Airspace
>>55981391
Canada is part of North America. It's in NORAD. As part of NORAD, Canada has to defend North American air space
![NORAD_Region-Sector_Map[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/vfzXYif.jpg "NORAD_Region-Sector_Map[1].jpg")
FYI, this is NORAD and the "CANR" section is defended by the Canadian air force
>>55981446
I think they're trying to say that Canada doesn't have the ability to contribute.
Which is sorta silly, they're not as large as USAF but if anything went down i'm sure they'd be a part of it.
>>55981391
The RCAF is more into logistics than combat nowadays, but it is still a capable force.
We have a ton of C-130's, a few of which are currently shuttling shit around in the Iraq
>>55982107
>in the Iraq
whoops
