DND depended on the "fifth-generation fighter" meme to sole source F-35

The F-35 part of the Canadian Auditor General's report is here. If you follow fighter tech, a read of the report will show many holes in DND assumptions.

For instance, in 2008, DND wanted to sole-source the F-35. In order to do so they needed something that set it apart from other fighter aircraft. That something was the "fifth-generation fighter" meme.

Here is how the AG report defined a "fifth-generation" fighter:

Fifth generation capability—Fighter jets that, according to manufacturers, incorporate the most modern technologies, such as stealth, advanced radar, and integrated avionics. There is no accepted or objective definition of fifth generation capability.

Emphasis added. "According to manufacturers".

While the report shows that DND supposedly researched other available fighter aircraft, there is no evidence that DND has received the classified U.S. Navy Super Hornet briefing (approved by the U.S. State Department) which is a precursor to any consideration of that aircraft.

As an aside: Boeing has delivered Super Hornets to the U.S. Navy and Australia, on-time and on-budget. The same also applies to Korea's order of F-15K's.

It is my opinion that one of the steps that has to be taken to fix this mess is to fire some people; pour encourager les autres.


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