Tuesday, July 07, 2009

The CF-18 replacement

AVIATION WEEK has a report from Graham Warwick, "Canada Looks to Accelerate F-35 Decision; Lockheed Eyes Consortium Buy".

So, it appears that Stevie and the Gang are getting to the short strokes of the decision-making process:

"Canada is working to bring forward a decision on its new fighter to later this year, with the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter facing ostensible competition from the Boeing F/A-18E/F, Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen NG (Next Generation).

Canada was the first country to join the United States and the United Kingdom as a partner in development of the JSF, and its industry has significant participation on the program. The original plan was to replace all 80 CF-18s, but "65 is sufficient to do the job," says the official."

I know it's wildly impractical politically, but I'd love to see us acquire the latest Sukhoi 35, with Canuck avionics and engines. Might be cheaper and more reliable.

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