RCAF Hornet replacement.
Finland picks the 35?
Rumor mill just now from local press suggests Finland has picked the F-35…
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...jets-iltalehti
By chance today is their national holiday as it’s their Independence Day…
cheers
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...jets-iltalehti
By chance today is their national holiday as it’s their Independence Day…
cheers
Interesting slant on RCAF thinking by Dr. Richard Goette (who is an air power academic and Canadian Air Force historian. In the Department of Defence Studies at the CFC [Canadian Forces College] in Toronto, he lectures on command, air power and the RCAF. Richard also teaches CFC’s Joint Command and Staff Programme and National Security Programme and is a Master of Defence Studies supervisor.)
https://publications.gc.ca/collectio...0-2020-eng.pdf
However it was SEAD capability that took me there (though Gripen would offer the option of RBS-15 Mk IV anti ship missile if Canada wanted to introduce such a capability
):
If the Canadian government follows this thinking and believes it may deploy aircraft to operate in a contested airspace with (even partially) intact defences then I can't see how it can go with anything but F-35s.
(Thread Drift Follows)
It strikes me that UK thinking has long been the same in respect of SEAD, no sustained specialist SEAD platform, no ARM to replace ALARM (the deletion of the Typhoon ALARM requirement saved a staggering
£21 Million). If SPEAR(3)-EW does materialise it will be a persistent jamming platform, and any kinetic suppression will rely on allies or acurate target identification to use munitions which are not targeted on emissions. However effective Typhoon's DASS is, Germany still sees a need for a SEAD platform. The French (in public anyway) put great faith in Rafale's SPECTRA but as this RAND report (https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA200/RRA231-1/RAND_RRA231-1.pdf) points out their lack of SEAD capabilities severely constrains their freedom of action. I would have thought that one lesson of the Falklands War that is still relevant is, that in order to use your air assets to their maximum effectivity, you need to be able to locate and surgically remove the enemies ability to observe their movements. I have always assumed that LO will have a limited lifespan just like any other techological advantage in war fighting.
https://publications.gc.ca/collectio...0-2020-eng.pdf
However it was SEAD capability that took me there (though Gripen would offer the option of RBS-15 Mk IV anti ship missile if Canada wanted to introduce such a capability
):
For instance, suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) is an important prerequisite for a successful air campaign to ensure the safety of air crews and freedom of action for operations. Notably, in recent air campaigns SEAD is usually achieved before RCAF assets are employed either because a) there are minimal enemy air defences to begin with (i.e., in the case of Op IMPACT) or b) allied air forces have already suppressed most enemy air defences before the arrival of RCAF assets in theatre (i.e., Op MOBILE). Operating in an A2/AD campaign against integrated air defences in which SEAD efforts have not been completely successful and air superiority is still being contested offers a variety of challenges for the RCAF. For one, it would necessitate a robust defensive suite and/or low-observability capabilities for its platforms to shield them from threats. For another, it would also require capabilities to exploit the electromagnetic spectrum to protect RCAF forces and degrade those of the enemy.
(Thread Drift Follows)
It strikes me that UK thinking has long been the same in respect of SEAD, no sustained specialist SEAD platform, no ARM to replace ALARM (the deletion of the Typhoon ALARM requirement saved a staggering
£21 Million). If SPEAR(3)-EW does materialise it will be a persistent jamming platform, and any kinetic suppression will rely on allies or acurate target identification to use munitions which are not targeted on emissions. However effective Typhoon's DASS is, Germany still sees a need for a SEAD platform. The French (in public anyway) put great faith in Rafale's SPECTRA but as this RAND report (https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA200/RRA231-1/RAND_RRA231-1.pdf) points out their lack of SEAD capabilities severely constrains their freedom of action. I would have thought that one lesson of the Falklands War that is still relevant is, that in order to use your air assets to their maximum effectivity, you need to be able to locate and surgically remove the enemies ability to observe their movements. I have always assumed that LO will have a limited lifespan just like any other techological advantage in war fighting.
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Only if they can work out how to avoid the embarrassment of ordering the same thing again (like Chimo/Cormorant) or if they are so determined not to order it they choose something else (Petrel/Cyclone)
I wonder if recent events will cause Justin to pull his finger out and make a decision?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...next-warplane/
Canada picks U.S.-made F-35 fighter jet as next warplane, source says
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.
Canada picks U.S.-made F-35 fighter jet as next warplane, source says
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.
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Welcome back, ORAC. 
I noted some links to the recent (announced) USN/USMC procurements for FY 2023 ~ they reduced the intended buy of E/F Hornets from 24 to 12. (And the apparently didn't really want any, but someone on Capitol Hill decided to reduce rather than zero out the order).
Does that leave an opening for the Aussies, for example, to maybe pick up a dozen Hornets at a small discount, or is that not really an opportunity? (And is the configuration to far apart on the export model to make that a realistic opportunity?)
As for Canada, might the looming F-35 contract negotiations get extended, perhaps leaving open a chance to plus up the Hornet fleet?
he old "we'll have these new jets in this FY" line so often encounters delays ...
Anyway, just a thought.
I noted some links to the recent (announced) USN/USMC procurements for FY 2023 ~ they reduced the intended buy of E/F Hornets from 24 to 12. (And the apparently didn't really want any, but someone on Capitol Hill decided to reduce rather than zero out the order).
Does that leave an opening for the Aussies, for example, to maybe pick up a dozen Hornets at a small discount, or is that not really an opportunity? (And is the configuration to far apart on the export model to make that a realistic opportunity?)
As for Canada, might the looming F-35 contract negotiations get extended, perhaps leaving open a chance to plus up the Hornet fleet?
he old "we'll have these new jets in this FY" line so often encounters delays ...
Anyway, just a thought.
Originally Posted by the linked article
- The Navy is again looking to stop buying new F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in this new budget request as it pushes to shift focus to its own Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which is separate from the Air Force's effort of the same name.
- The service did not request funds for any additional Super Hornets in the 2022 Fiscal Year, but Congress subsequently approved funding for 12 of these aircraft as part of a supplemental omnibus spending package.
- How much funding the Navy is then requesting for its NGAD effort is classified, but it "goes up fairly dramatically" over the next five years, according to the service.
Does that leave an opening for the Aussies, for example, to maybe pick up a dozen Hornets at a small discount, or is that not really an opportunity? (And is the configuration to far apart on the export model to make that a realistic opportunity?)
As for Canada, might the looming F-35 contract negotiations get extended, perhaps leaving open a chance to plus up the Hornet fleet?
As for Canada, might the looming F-35 contract negotiations get extended, perhaps leaving open a chance to plus up the Hornet fleet?
Australia only ever acquired the SH as a stop-gap until the the F-35 came online. I doubt they will look to buy any more now that F-35 deliveries are well underway.
Minister defends 'rigorous' process that brought government back to F-35s
The current government promised to scrap the F-35 program in 2015
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2017239107693
The current government promised to scrap the F-35 program in 2015
The current government promised to scrap the F-35 program in 2015
Three....in theory.
Fort Worth, Italy and Japan.
I think though that the first complete production one off the Italian line wasn't that long ago (last year or late 2020?) and first one off the Japanese line might be this year or was late last year?
Fort Worth, Italy and Japan.
I think though that the first complete production one off the Italian line wasn't that long ago (last year or late 2020?) and first one off the Japanese line might be this year or was late last year?