Canada selects F-35A

[Alf]

From Scramble..

Canada picks U.S.-made F-35 fighter jet as next warplane
28-03-2022

The Canadian government has selected Lockheed Martin Corp., the American manufacturer of the F-35 fighter jet, as its preferred bidder in a $19-billion search for a new warplane.
The announcement will be made today, a source told The Globe and Mail. They were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
This development means Canada starts negotiating solely with Lockheed Martin on a contract for the combat aircraft.
If negotiations are successful, Canada could start taking delivery of new fighters as early as 2025, the source said.

[binbrook87]

Oh gawd not another country! RIAT will be pretty boring in a few years time

[Nighthawke]

The same thing was said years ago about the F-16, but people still flock to RIAT and other shows.

[KevinJ]

At least the F-16 often has some colour and charisma, now just a sea of grey F-35zzzzzz won't have anything like the same attraction. I know that's not its purpose but it'll make aviation more boring for the enthusiasts and photographers. Say goodbye to all those fantastic special schemes on the CF-18s over the years.

[Canberra TT.18]

And some official news.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service ... er-th.html

[DavieB]

At least the F-16 often has some colour and charisma, now just a sea of grey F-35zzzzzz won't have anything like the same attraction. I know that's not its purpose but it'll make aviation more boring for the enthusiasts and photographers. Say goodbye to all those fantastic special schemes on the CF-18s over the years.

Yep, totally agree. The 35 may be fantastically functional but its appearance is just plain bland. And the proliferation of them, well, it's turned into the Toyota Corolla of the skies!

[cat1]

I guess publicity isn't a major factor in designing a fighter jet?

[NickC]

The same thing was said years ago about the F-16, but people still flock to RIAT and other shows.

And before that, the same was said about the F-104.

[Precinct7]

The same thing was said years ago about the F-16, but people still flock to RIAT and other shows.

And before that, the same was said about the F-104.

& the F-4 !

[POL]

I'm sure I saw somewhere yesterday that the Canadian spec aircraft will have a parachute (like Norway) but also be fitted with a hose and drogue refuelling probe like the F-35B/C.

This makes me wonder...why did the MOD not do that years ago?

[Vulcanone]

Well if we buy any F-35As I suppose we can add that to the list of things.... https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6 ... ocurement/

[NorvilleRogers]

I'm sure I saw somewhere yesterday that the Canadian spec aircraft will have a parachute (like Norway) but also be fitted with a hose and drogue refuelling probe like the F-35B/C.

This makes me wonder...why did the MOD not do that years ago?

Do what?

[Malcolm]

I'm sure I saw somewhere yesterday that the Canadian spec aircraft will have a parachute (like Norway) but also be fitted with a hose and drogue refuelling probe like the F-35B/C.

This makes me wonder...why did the MOD not do that years ago?

The Canadians also have a project underway to replace their CC150's...

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-nat ... oject.html

...so they might be going with the standard F-35A refuelling. Would also allow them to refuel their C-17's, and P-8's when they (inevitably) chose that to replace their CP-140's.

[red leader]

The French will be next. Their fifth generation fighter is years away yet so I reckon they'll opt for F35 at least in the short term.

[pg1610]

The French will be next. Their fifth generation fighter is years away yet so I reckon they'll opt for F35 at least in the short term.

Have the french used anything (fighter a/c) not built in France sine the sixties ? Surley with upgrade Rafale could keep going for another 20 years or more

[Malcolm]

The French will be next. Their fifth generation fighter is years away yet so I reckon they'll opt for F35 at least in the short term.

Don't think so. The French also use all their own home developed weapons, including tactical Nukes delivered by RafaleF3 (and before that M2000N). Integrating weapons onto these new 4.5 and 5th gen jets takes forever, and requires the co-operation of whoever controls the aircraft program. It took ages to get Brimstone/Spear and Storm Shadow onto Typhoon. Meteor & Brimstone/Spear are on the list for F-35, but schedules keep drifting to the right (many suspect it's the US and a 'not made here' mentality). Spear is now 2026, and Meteor is 2027.

So either the French would have to chuck away all their existing weapons and buy new US made stuff, or wait ages for the US to integrate the French stuff. It's highly unlikely the French would want to disclose the parameters required for delivery of their own tactical nukes, and I doubt the US would want to release B61 tech to the French. If the French want to maintain their independent air delivery of tactical nukes capability then they're stuck with Rafale until they come up with an indigenous 5th gen platform. By that time, the US (and hopefully UK) will be on 6th gen.

It will be interesting to see what the delivery schedule for Canada is. They're quite late into the game, and beside existing customers we already have Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Singapore in the queue for delivery in the 2025-30 timeframe. It's also worth noting the USAF are slowing their delivery schedule (35% reduction next FY). Full rate production is only supposed to be 156 jets per year. The cynic in me is thinking they're trying to delay/offload the Block3F jets to others before the more capable Block4 jets come online.

[red leader]

Yes the French flew the Crusader which was US made.

[Vulcanone]

Except as far as I recall they only used them as fighters, as the Navy did nukes on them big things called Submarines....