“RCAF”

RCAF commander reports progress on filling recruitment, retention gaps

OTTAWA – A substantial entry level pay hike for pilots and the acquisition of new and advanced aircraft are “absolutely” helping to shore up Royal Canadian Air Force pilot retention and morale, says the force’s commander.

In a wide-ranging recent interview with The Canadian Press, Commander Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet said she is seeing signs of progress despite the protracted personnel crisis gripping the air force, which remains short of roughly 2,000 trained personnel.

New wish dream aircraft for the imaginary armed forces.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF"

Canadians say selecting the best fighter jet for the job matters more than jobs: Nanos

As the Canadian government reviews its commitment to purchase American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, a new poll shows what Canadians think should be prioritized in procuring replacements to the aging CF-18s.

The CTV News and Nanos Research survey gauged Canadian’s views on what matters the most to them in terms of defence cooperation, in light of ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. and a pitch from Swedish manufacturer of the Gripen fighter jet, SAAB, to bring up to 10,000 manufacturing and research jobs to Canada if Ottawa adds the aircraft to its military fleet.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada, Sweden, USA

Critics question Saab’s offer to bring 10,000 aerospace jobs to Canada

OTTAWA – Critics are questioning the solidity of Saab’s pitch to deliver 10,000 jobs in Canada if it decides to set up shop here to assemble Gripen fighter jets.

The Swedish company has said little about how it came to that number, making it hard to evaluate the offer.

Saab spokesperson Jenny Gerdes said the estimate reflects the “scale of work” the company anticipates bringing to the country, “should the Gripen be selected.”

“The figure is based on projected global demand for Gripen and the corresponding production, sustainment and R&D activities Canada would undertake,” Gerdes said in an email.

Lots of If’s.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada, Sweden, USA

Why Canada risks Trump’s ire if it chooses Gripen gamesmanship over F-35 stealth

Canada Recycles to save on military expenditures – The Sherman Air Superiority Ground Attack Tank Thingy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s a high-flying tale of carrots, sticks and political flip-flops.

American leaders have been urging Canada to boost its military spending and NATO contributions since the alliance’s founding, back in 1949. Some, like former U.S. president Barack Obama, have been polite about it, encouraging Ottawa that “the world needs more Canada,” while others, especially U.S. President Donald Trump, have been more blunt, referring to Canadians as “freeloaders” who are “delinquent” on military contributions.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "Canada - USA Tariff Wars", "RCAF", Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

F-35 beat Gripen fighter jet ‘by a mile’ in 2021 Defence Department competition

The competition focused on each fighter jet’s capabilities in defending the North American continent and the likelihood of success in various missions against modern military forces.

The F-35 got a score of 95 per cent on military capabilities, with a total of 57.1 points out of 60.

By contrast, the Gripen-E finished with a score of 33 per cent, netting 19.8 points out of 60, according to the Department of National Defence (DND) ranking obtained by Radio-Canada.

Elbow People hardest hit.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "Canada - USA Tariff Wars", "RCAF", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, Sweden

The future fighter debate

OTTAWA—For the senior brass at the Royal Canadian Air Force, there is no question whatsoever that they want the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning as the replacement for their aging fleet of CF-18 Hornet fighter planes.

They have wanted the F-35, and only the F-35, since this fifth-generation stealth strike fighter was first on the drawing board in 1997.

In 2010, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government announced a sole-source deal to purchase 65 F-35s for the Air Force at a cost of $9-billion for the aircraft, and a total program cost of $16-billion. However, as the F-35 experienced technical teething trouble, and the costs soared, Harper pushed the reset button on the entire controversial procurement.

Not sure Elbows Up TDS is the best mindset when evaluating fighter jets.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "Canada - USA Tariff Wars", "RCAF", Canada, Sweden, USA

Mark Carney has a decision to make that will cost billions. Worse, he has no good options, and time is running out

Canada‘s existing fleet of fighter jets is overdue for replacement. The CF-18s have been operating continuously since the early 1980s, longer than most of their pilots have been alive. The basic existing design of the fighter is even older than that.

They should have been replaced long ago. This was supposedly a priority for the Harper government. In theory, it was a priority for the Trudeau government, too. Now it’s a problem for the Carney government.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

The idea of a mixed fleet of Canadian fighter jets should not take flight

Canada is apparently considering acquiring a mixed fleet of fighter jets. But this decision is being considered without any real strategic thinking.

Economic considerations seem to be taking precedence over military imperatives, even though several experts and military leaders strongly recommend a single fleet of F-35s, which is considered more consistent with continental defence needs.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government

McGuinty not ruling out fighter jet purchases from several companies with F-35 decision still pending

Defence Minister David McGuinty says Canada isn’t ruling out diversifying its fighter-jet purchases from more than one company in order to fulfil capability requirements.

“We’re grateful for any forthcoming offer that comes forward,” McGuinty told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday. “If anybody walks into Canada tomorrow from a sovereign wealth fund or with a joint venture in mind or is looking to set up a company in Canada to create 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,000 jobs, game on.”

What a load of BS.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, WTF?

Melanie Joly pushing F-35 maker for economic benefits in Canada

The federal industry minister is putting pressure on U.S.-based Lockheed Martin to provide more economic benefits in Canada if the government is to proceed with its planned purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets.

Otherwise, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said in a French-language interview on Radio-Canada’s Les coulisses du pouvoir, Ottawa could move forward with a smaller fleet of F-35s and the acquisition of a second fleet of Gripen-E fighter jets manufactured by Sweden’s Saab. That company has offered to assemble Gripens in Canada.

Joly made the comments as Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is still mulling the fate of the $27.7-billion fighter jet contract.

Yes you read that right. Melanie Joly.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"RCAF", Canada, USA

‘We are moving forward’: Top soldier says F-35 preparations continue despite government review

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan says the Canadian military is moving ahead with its preparations for F-35 fighter jets despite an ongoing government review of the purchase.

“We’re not currently in the position where we are waiting,” Carignan told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an exclusive interview airing Sunday. “We are working towards this acquisition.”

“Our pilots are off to the U.S. in the next few months to start training,” she added. “The infrastructure is going up. We have airfields being extended to get ready, so we are definitely not in a position where we are waiting.”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"RCAF", Canada, USA

U.S. warns Canada of potential negative consequences if it dumps F-35 fighter jet

The release of the Canadian military’s review of the F-35 fighter jet is expected shortly but the U.S. has already signalled this country could face serious consequences if the Liberal government decides not to proceed with the arms deal.

Defence Minister David McGuinty has committed to the public release of the review which will come by the end of the summer.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, USA

National Defence considering purchase of Transformers

National Defence considering purchase of fighter drones that could fly with F-35

The Department of National Defence is looking at the possibility of complementing its incoming F-35 fleet with uncrewed combat aircraft.

Unclassified documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the department is researching various options for acquiring the emerging technology.

The documents suggest that purchasing a fleet of aerial combat drones that could fly alongside fighter jets could cost as much as $16 billion and would require hundreds of staff.

The drones should integrate well with the F-35’s were not going to buy.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"RCAF"

LILLEY: F-35 audit shows incompetence at DND and across Ottawa

The report on the cost of the F-35 from the auditor general is more about incompetence than anything else. It’s also a worrying sign given that Prime Minister Mark Carney just pledged billions in new spending for the Canadian Armed Forces.

The headline from the audit is that the original cost projection to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets was $19 billion and now it’s $27.7 billion, a 46% increase.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"RCAF", Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government