Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) News and Discussions

John Fedup

John Fedup

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Some more Euro fantasy from Defense Aerospace. I can't see how the Eurofighter could be marketed in Canada. The industrial benefits would be minimal, just look at the infighting between the current Euro partners. Furthermore, the article incorrectly states Airbus bought Bombardier. Incorrect, they agreed to a 50.1% control of the C-Series program not the entire Bombardier Aerospace operation. I would say the Rafale would have a better chance but not buy much. Despite junior and with help from Boeing management, LM is in the lead.

Airbus Teams with UK Government for Canada’s Future Fighter
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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The Canadian government is considering new VIP transport planes. Junior will no doubt motivate his procurement minions to move on this at more rapid pace than the fighter replacement. Note the comment on future AAR lanes, "no decision until a new fighter is selected". I guess that will be a long wait.
 
ngatimozart

ngatimozart

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John Fedup said:
The Canadian government is considering new VIP transport planes. Junior will no doubt motivate his procurement minions to move on this at more rapid pace than the fighter replacement. Note the comment on future AAR lanes, "no decision until a new fighter is selected". I guess that will be a long wait.
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Airbus will seize the opportunity and offer the KC-30 MRTT for both the VIP role and the AAR role. The RAAF have fitted out a KC-30 for VIP transport and the RAF use a couple of their A330 MRTT aircraft for VIP transport. The RCAF A310 tankers must be due for replacement, and a combination of the KC-30 and say a couple of A320 / A321 aircraft for short range VIP would be an Airbus proposal.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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Agreed, given the current state of affairs between Canada and the US, a sole source to Airbus might even be possible. The MRTT is the best option regardless as it is proven.
 
J_Can

J_Can

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John Fedup said:
Agreed, given the current state of affairs between Canada and the US, a sole source to Airbus might even be possible. The MRTT is the best option regardless as it is proven.
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Just of curiosity John or anyone with knowledge on this, do you think this will be a one for one replacement of the air frames or will they buy more? The reason I ask is because in the defence review they said they wanted to increase tanker numbers. So with the C-130K out of Winnipeg getting long in the tooth it would make sense if they bought say 6 to 8 MRTT. That would replace the both the current tankers and the larger VIP transport fleet. That or do you think the RCAF will get out off the their already limited field of tac air to air refuelling and just focus in on a one for one replacement of their larger aircraft like the MRTT?
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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I am no fountain of knowledge on what the government of Canada will do with regards to AAR requirements (likely a large club!). Given the poisonous relationship between the GoC and Boeing, the MRTT from Airbus along with the fact the KC-46 is still a work in progress, the MRRT should be the choice. Tactical AAR will be via our existing C-130J fleet and these planes are also the only solution for helicopter AAR.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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This short article discusses Canada's participation with European partners to come up with a new MPA solution which could replace our Auroras post 2030. Twelve years to come up with a new MPA seems ambitious given recent Euro efforts wrt military aviation projects. From a Canadian prospective, no worries, it will take at least 20 years for DND and PWSC to issue an order. It would seem the P-8 is not in our future.

Aurora aircraft good to fly until 2030 but DND setting the stage for its replacement
 
t68

t68

Well-Known Member
John Fedup said:
This short article discusses Canada's participation with European partners to come up with a new MPA solution which could replace our Auroras post 2030. Twelve years to come up with a new MPA seems ambitious given recent Euro efforts wrt military aviation projects. From a Canadian prospective, no worries, it will take at least 20 years for DND and PWSC to issue an order. It would seem the P-8 is not in our future.

Aurora aircraft good to fly until 2030 but DND setting the stage for its replacement
Click to expand...

I imagine that has something to do with the recent stoush with Boeing
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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Likely so but I think cheaper and less capability motivate junior and his team as well.
 
ngatimozart

ngatimozart

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Canada is developing a quantum radar system. This is believed to be able to detect stealth platforms and provide better resolution than current radar technology. Apparently Canada is at the forefront of this technology.

As an aside quantum technology is currently being developed for cryptography and for computing.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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Unfortunately any significant developments here will not get the additional funding needed to actually produce something. It will be another example of selling off technology to foreign interests in order to avoid the larger investment needed as the program matures.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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Currently there are no plans for replacement aircraft lost by accidents or use. This will come later. The initial program called for 65 jets which junior upped to 88 (due to his plan to eliminate the F-35). As the F-35 should win the next competition, out of spite, junior will probably proclaim the extra 23 jets above what Harper wanted will be for attrition.

RCAF future fighter program – policy on attrition aircraft to be decided later
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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I am surprised this replacement option is being considered. The Cormorants are only 20 years and the 6-7 VH-71s are virgins needing completion. This fleet of 20 plus is thus very young by Canadian standards!:eek:

Given the ugly saga of the Cyclone project which is only now starting to get resolved after 12 years it is surprising Sikorsky is being considered although the S-92 is a different beast from the HH-92 (CH-148). Now that Sikorsky is a LM company perhaps this is an inducement to LM to keep a low profile during the fighter replacement process which is likely going to be in their favour now. Junior will hype the S-92 as a low cost SAR alternative only made possible by the Liberal party's brilliant selection of the HH-92 as Canada's maritime helicopter. This would be followed by junior claiming credit for lower F-35 pricing allowing him to save face when the F-35 wins the completion. The cloud in all this is his government's economic performance (think trainwreck).
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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So much for the S-92 option for SAR. The existing Cormorants will be modernized and the existing fleet will be increased by either leasing additional AW101s or putting the VH-71s into service after modifications for SAR or maybe both. The earlier report on new S-92s did seem out of character for junior. This deal may be compensation for the the government's BS FWSAR award to Airbus. I have not heard what happened to Leonardo's legal action over the FWSAR award so maybe there was a deal to drop the matter.

Cormorant search and rescue helicopters to be modernized – Italian firm to get sole-source contract
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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Perhaps we will know if new units are to be bought today but I think "new" might be the the 7 VH-71 being put into service.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

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