What would a real deal look like? Probably something like below. Interesting. Because it isn't too far off from the non-DND studies thrown about for an F-35 procurement (much higher than the Lockheed Martin talking point crowd). My scenario has support for 20 years and not 30 years. More; note the language that I used in the fake DSCA release below. It hints at an open competition for replacement of Canada's aging CF-18s.
Canada – F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft
WASHINGTON, August 8, 2013 – Today the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Canada of 28 F/A-18E Super Hornet Aircraft, eight F/A-18F Super Hornet Aircraft, 72 F414-GE-400 installed engines, a host of spare parts and munitions at an estimated value of $6.5 billion; with an option to purchase at a later date an additional 36 aircraft.
The Government of Canada has requested proposals from several foreign suppliers, including the United States, to provide the next generation fighter for the Canadian Defence Force. In this competition, the Government of Canada has yet to select the United States Navy-Boeing proposal.
This notification is being made in advance of receipt of a letter of request so that, in the event that the US Navy-Boeing proposal is selected, the United States might move as quickly as possible to implement the sale. If the Government of Canada selects the U.S. Navy-Boeing proposal, the Government of Canada will request a possible sale of 28 F/A-18E Super Hornet Aircraft, eight F/A-18F Super Hornet Aircraft, 72 F414-GE-400 installed engines, four F414-GE-400 spare engines, 36 AN/APG-79 Radar Systems, 36 M61A2 20mm Gun Systems, 36 AN/ALR-67(V) three Radar Warning Receivers, 144 LAU-127 Launchers, 44 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), 144 AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), 144 AIM-9X SIDEWINDER Missiles, and 36 AN/ASQ-228 (V2) Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pods. Also included are 36 AN/ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures. 40 AN/ALE-47 Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Systems, 112 AN/ALE-55 Towed Decoys, 12 air-to-air refueling kits, Joint Mission Planning System, support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, ferry and tanker support, flight test, software support, publications and technical documents, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.
I propose that the second order of Super Hornets would be for 36 single-seat E models. A package very similar to above in content for $6.3B. Grand-total: 72 aircraft.
Operating and sustainment figures for 20 years will be for cost of flight hour only. I am averaging this out to $22k per flight hour; 300 flight hours per airframe, per year.
Grand total (not counting facilities upgrades) is around $22.3B to replace Canada's CF-18s with 72 Super Hornets including 20 years of basic operations and sustainment costs.
(ATFLIR on BlockII F-18F)
