Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) News and Discussions

[ngatimozart]

Sounds very much like it will be an F-18 vs F-35. I find hard to believe that with all Canada's ill will against Boeing that the SH is even being considered.

From a personal viewpoint it will be lose-lose for Trudeau. He stated he wouldn't buy the F-35 and he wouldn't do any business with Boeing.

From the outside looking in, I think that Monsieur Trudeau may have a similar personality to one Kevin Rudd, so if that is indeed the case, then I think your question is answered. He may also see himself as Canada's De Gaulle, much as I think Rudd fancied himself as Australia's Churchill or MacArthur.

 

[John Fedup]

If he wins the next election he might just reuse the old “none of the bids were acceptable “ trick and then do yet another restart of the process. Doubtful if any fast jet vendor would ever respond to another tender thus providing him with the result he truly wants, no jets at all.

 

[John Fedup]

From the outside looking in, I think that Monsieur Trudeau may have a similar personality to one Kevin Rudd, so if that is indeed the case, then I think your question is answered. He may also see himself as Canada's De Gaulle, much as I think Rudd fancied himself as Australia's Churchill or MacArthur.

Junior doesn’t want to be De Gaulle, that would not be girly enough for him.

 

[Long range]

We should know in the next couple of days if Saab is in or out bidders have to explain their plan on how to integrate their aircraft to NORAD specifications by September 20 if my memory is correct

 

[John Fedup]

If Saab exits on Sep 20, we might see junior struggling during the rest of the election campaign explaining why after all this BS about an open and fair competition we end up with only two vendors. This was a known situation 5 years ago. Given his current embarrassment, a minority government with NDP support is likely now which could derail the fighter acquisition until the next election cycle. The electorate wouldn't notice.

 

[Oberon]

If Saab exits on Sep 20, we might see junior struggling during the rest of the election campaign explaining why after all this BS about an open and fair competition we end up with only two vendors. This was a known situation 5 years ago. Given his current embarrassment, a minority government with NDP support is likely now which could derail the fighter acquisition until the next election cycle. The electorate wouldn't notice.

Be pleased to be advised that junior's current embarrassment has also made headline news here in Australia. I understand that the election will be close, even before the current revelations, so would a Conservative government be more favourably inclined to Canadian Forces?

 

[John Fedup]

Be pleased to be advised that junior's current embarrassment has also made headline news here in Australia. I understand that the election will be close, even before the current revelations, so would a Conservative government be more favourably inclined to Canadian Forces?

Any loss of Liberal votes will go to the Greens or NDP not the Conservatives. I doubt either the Conservative or Liberals will win enough seats to form a majority government so the most likely scenario is a Liberal minority government with NDP support, an even worse outcome than a majority junior win as junior will cave to any NDP socialist demand to stay in power.

Would a conservative government be better for defence? They might be a little better but they are pollies so they will throw DND under the bus if it is necessary to keep the electorate happy. As I have often stated, the electorate is the problem together with self serving pollies. Only a serious threat will change this and it will be too late in all likelihood.

 

[Oberon]

Any loss of Liberal votes will go to the Greens or NDP not the Conservatives. I doubt either the Conservative or Liberals will win enough seats to form a majority government so the most likely scenario is a Liberal minority government with NDP support, an even worse outcome than a majority junior win as junior will cave to any NDP socialist demand to stay in power.

Would a conservative government be better for defence? They might be a little better but they are pollies so they will throw DND under the bus if it is necessary to keep the electorate happy. As I have often stated, the electorate is the problem together with self serving pollies. Only a serious threat will change this and it will be too late in all likelihood.

Just the opposite here. Defence seems to have fairly broad support in Australia. I can't remember the last time we had a "khaki" election. I think the formula of having a white paper followed by a defence capability plan/ integrated investment plan has taken the politics out the defence debate. Does Canada use a similar system?

 

[John Fedup]

Typically parties here don't cooperate. Even when a white paper comes out, how to formulate a plan will involve a fight thus the party in power will force their plan across the finish line as long as it doesn't damage their electoral prospects too much. This is why the Harper government caved on their F-35 plan. Even when an acquisition is pushed through, a change in government can derail a project even if it costs a shitload of money to cancel, e.g. Chrétien' EH101 cancellation. Both Federal and Provincial governments here are dysfunctional when it comes to cooperation on most major issues.

 

[Black Jack Shellac]

Any loss of Liberal votes will go to the Greens or NDP not the Conservatives.

There is a chance that the votes will be split on the left between the Liberals, Greens and NDP and thus allow the Conservatives to win.

 

[Novascotiaboy]

So friday the 20th was supposed to be the deadline for submissions for the Fighter replacement so does anyone have an insight on the companies which submitted avproposal?

 

[John Fedup]

Assuming this story pans out and the government only receives a LM bid, I wonder if the mental midgets in Ottawa will still need two years to evaluate the bid?

Will other firms withdraw from fighter jet competition leaving F-35 last plane standing?

 

[hauritz]

When even the opposing aircraft manufacturers think it is bleeding obvious which aircraft most suits Canada's requirement it does bring into question the competence of Canada's decision-makers.

 

[ngatimozart]

When even the opposing aircraft manufacturers think it is bleeding obvious which aircraft most suits Canada's requirement it does bring into question the competence of Canada's decision-makers.

Hmm, that's stating the obvious. We've been questioning their competency for years and regard Canadian defence procurement as about on par with Indian defence procurement, for on time delivery, cost control, effective and timely decision making, and project management.

 

[John Fedup]

Hmm, that's stating the obvious. We've been questioning their competency for years and regard Canadian defence procurement as about on par with Indian defence procurement, for on time delivery, cost control, effective and timely decision making, and project management.

Until recently I would also question the competency of the vendors. Now not so much as two Euro vendors have figured out what a waste of time and money bidding to a Canadian Military acquisition really is.

 

[QuietSpikeIV]

Why does the RCAF and DND focus so much resources and funding towards domestic SAR? Literally 1/3 of the RCAF's budget is funneled towards domestic SAR! Our fighter fleet that NORAD depends on is in shambles but don't worry folks, we have an entire fleet of CH-149s, CC-295 Guardians and CH-146 Griffons that could have been used as interim aircraft for our medium lift helicopter crisis in Afghanistan. We need to pass down the capability to the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (Coast Guard) Deportment of Transportation, first responders and private industry. We are the only Air Force that employs domestic SAR as it's primary capability and it's not even a military role!

 

[John Fedup]

The RCAF doesn't want to yield aviation turf to other players. From a cost point of view, duplicating aviation recruiting, training, and acquisition of kit across several departments would suck. Neither the RCN or CCG want the added expense of supporting relatively small helicopter fleets from their already lean budgets.

WRT SAR, I seriously doubt SAR is 1/3 of the RCAF's budget. Assigning SAR to the private sector would require huge subsidies to entice companies to service remote regions. They and Transport Canada would have the same issues the CCG and RCN in supporting small aviation fleets. Canada has treaty obligations wrt SAR in the Arctic and frankly our current and planned acquisitions don't really provide enough capability. An airliner ditching or cruise ship disaster in the high Canadian Arctic is a place we wouldn't want to be at.

 

[Calculus]

At the Airbus facility in Seville Spain, the first (of 16) of the new FWSAR C295Ws in the RCAF SAR livery (courtesy of Airbus). Due for delivery to the RCAF in December. Six other airframes are in various stages of construction, with number 2 currently in flight testing.

First Royal Canadian Air Force C295 shows off its final livery Link contains a video of the paint process and roll out.

 

[Calculus]

Bombardier Global 7500 breaks another range record for a business jet: Bombardier Global 7500 Completes 8,225-nm Flight

Posted this here because of the RCAF's interest in a long range surveillance capability, similar to SAAB's Globaleye GlobalEye | Performance beyond limits | Saab

 

[Calculus]

Was dropping my daughter off at Air Cadets last night, at the Connaught Ranges and Primary Training Centre in West Ottawa, and saw this old lady, just arrived on flatbed. (Presumably there to become an aircraft monument.)