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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*UPDATE* AG- DND misled Parliament over the F-35

Canadian AG report states DND misled Parliament over the F-35

Still no time left for Canada

DND costing figures on the F-35 are wrong

Exploring another option for Canada's CF-18 replacement

A CF-18 replacement scenario for Canada

*UPDATE* AG- DND misled Parliament over the F-35

The Canadian Auditor General has released a damning report on the government's 2010 decision to select the F-35 as the CF-18 replacement.

What appears to have happened is that before the July 2010 F-35 announcement by the current government, there was a DND estimate that the F-35 program would cost $25B (including 20 years of maintenance) if Canada went through with it.

After the government announced the decision for the F-35, the $16B figure was claimed by the DND (and even published on their website). In 2011, the DND stated $14.7B in response to a report done by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page.

The report by Page was much higher than any DND estimate and was attacked by the F-35 fan-base. As it turns out--given the huge cost rise in the F-35 program--Page is probably closer on the numbers. The AG agrees.

The current government's defense is,"we haven't signed a contract yet!". True. It is the untruthful language leading up to that decision that is the problem.

Parliament will likely respond to this fraud by pulling DND's authority to procure a CF-18 replacement. A good move because DND has proven they can't be trusted with what could be the most expensive Canadian military procurement in history. DND (and the current government) went native to Lockheed Martin fairy tales. What happens to the careers of people involved in this lie to parliament is yet to be seen.

*** UPDATE- Alan Williams has some good comments in this CBC video.
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Canadian AG report states DND misled Parliament over the F-35

Still no time left for Canada

DND costing figures on the F-35 are wrong

Exploring another option for Canada's CF-18 replacement

A CF-18 replacement scenario for Canada

Canadian AG report states DND misled Parliament over the F-35

The Canadian government voyage of discovery with the F-35 program is getting more dramatic.

Next month, their Auditor-General’s office will report that the DND misled Parliament over the F-35.

Lockheed Martin talking points and gross over optimism are not suitable analysis products.

Also of interest, the government has repeatedly stated that the acquisition ceiling for a CF-18 replacement is 9-billion dollars.

Poor procurement research an analysis is nothing new for the DND. They have dropped the ball with the submarine debacle and the Chinook purchase. The C-130 purchase was not pretty either.

Parliament--who should have been more on the ball--now have a solid trend of DNDs lack of ability to research and produce procurement plans for weapons systems.

What is Parliament going to do to correct these negative trends by the DND?

Still no time left for Canada

DND costing figures on the F-35 are wrong

Exploring another option for Canada's CF-18 replacement

A CF-18 replacement scenario for Canada