That plan is now expected to involve a real competition.
Not that I'm doubting the average intelligence of those that decide on these massive purchases but wouldn't that have been the first thing to do before comitting to 1 specific product?
Or is that just me using an excessive amount of rational thought???
Anyway if they are going to have a 'competition' , the outcome can be pretty much whatever they want, the F35 for the RCAF might be as alive as before , with a slight political detour to safe face in the longrun.
Competitions can have all sort of dubious outcomes, last times it was the Gripen vs Rafale in Switzerland, the EF vs Rafale in India and also the strategic tanker debacle for the USAF are still fresh in the mind.