Update on Canada's Hornet replacement plan

Canada's CF-18 Hornet replacement plan now looks like the F-35 is seriously out of the running. This is a good thing as it didn't work as a weapon system, anyway.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has said that a new statement of requirement for the jets will be released — one that is likely to effectively block any chance of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 being chosen, in line with the Liberal Party’s campaign commitment.

We discussed the options available. In the analyst’s opinion, it came down to Boeing’s Super Hornet, Saab’s Gripen and Dassault’s Rafale, with the last two being better placed to last into mid-century.

He acknowledged the problems of inter-operability with the U.S., if the Canadian military picked a European jet. The advantage, he said, was that both European manufacturers could “Canadianize” their planes by making them here.

Note, you can have interoperability with U.S. platforms and not use U.S. products. So, that argument has always been bad.

It appears that Canada will have better control over industry involvement.

Also of note, look at the Indian competition sometime back. Boeing offered 100 percent offsets for their Super Hornet. Others are probably same or similar.





H/T- Reader Super-Rhino