Winning.
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 28, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta yesterday reaffirmed the Defense Department’s commitment to the F-35 joint strike fighter program and to ensuring it remains within the defense strategy’s budget.
The secretary spoke at a news conference following a meeting with Mexican and Canadian defense leaders here.
“As part of the defense strategy that the United States went through and has put in place, we have made very clear that we are 100 percent committed to the development of the F-35,” he said. “It’s a fifth-generation fighter, [and] we absolutely need it for the future.”
Acknowledging that the Defense Department has to be vigilant and provide as much oversight as possible as the aircraft continues to be developed, Panetta said Pentagon officials are confident that “this plane can do everything that it’s being asked to do in terms of performance.
“We’ve been testing it, and we continue to evaluate it as we proceed,” he continued. “And we’ve made very clear to the industries involved in its production that they have to keep it within the cross-confinements that we’ve provided with regards to this plane.”
Panetta noted the price of each aircraft varies from variant to variant, with three types involved in the program’s development. Canada signed on for the project’s production, sustainment and follow-on development phase on Dec. 11, 2006, along with Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay called the F-35 an example of interoperability as his country faces similar challenges with the joint strike fighter program.
“In addition, I would add that this is the aircraft that the Royal Canadian Air Force, after an extensive internal examination of capabilities and what was on the market, came to us and said, ‘This the plane we need. This is the plane we want for a whole number of reasons.’”
MacKay said “due diligence and analysis” are necessary to ensure taxpayers are well-served and their best interests are considered.
“On the aspect of budgets as we go forward, every department of government -- every defense department, certainly all of our NATO partners, our Mexican colleagues [and] our friends around the globe -- are looking to prioritize their defense spending,” he said. “It [should] come as no surprise to anyone here that Canada is going through that exact same process in determining what our defense needs are at home.”
Its what the F-35's doing.
Much to the annoyance of that CABAL of writers/bloggers/skeptics...
I know your an F35 fanboy and I respect your desire for your beloved Corps to have the capabilities provided by the B
ReplyDeleteBUT
why on earth does Canada need a "first day of the war" low observable strike fighter? The so called extensive internal assessment has been badly mauled up here, and has even been politically divisive.
Whether its coalition ops in 'Stan' or patrolling the great white north we would be better off buying your old S3 Vikings!
Canada needs the F-35 because of that great spot of white to the north called the Arctic circle.
ReplyDeletei truly believe there is going to be a mad dash for resources and unless Canada is going to hide behind the US...something its never done, then it needs a fully networked, stealth fighter with good range.
What should they have gotten, EF or Rafele? They will be more expensive to the Canadians than the F-35s they are buying.
ReplyDeleteCheaper alternatives like the Gripen or F/A-18? For the few meager percentage points that the F-35 costs you get a MUCH better fighter (the F/A-18 does not even have an IRST or MAWS).
Gentlemen
ReplyDeleteWhat form do you think the fight for the great white north is going to take ? Canadian air force fighter bases, transport and tanker bases are all within a couple of hundred miles of the US border in Ontario or British Columbia. F18's operate of rugged forward operating bases, and I am sure the F35 won't require any extra / special maintenance that would prevent that:
However, what air to air threat, or ground threat that requires the F35's "first day of the war" so called low observable features do you think will exist ? Unless the U.S. invades from Alaska (Canada would not stand a chance) or Denmark invades from Greenland (were more likely to get drunk together) that leaves the Russian air force, and the Russian and potentially chinese navies. So what Russian air threat requires the F35, that any other current western fighter could not deal with ? F15SE ? F18E/F ?? What ground threat is going to invade across the arctic with SAM's that would require the F35's low observable characteristics to get close enough to launch JDAM's ??
The biggest threat in the arctic is surely naval - and mostly underwater at that. A number of Canadian think tanks have noted that the key to enforcing arctic sovereignty is to be SEEN to be taking it seriously, by patrolling and presence.
So, I am quite serious when I suggest the S3's from the bone yard, with considerable range, a decent radar, EO turret, hose and drogue refueling, a sturdy under-carriage (useful for those FOB's) etc would be a far better buy.
Air defence ? Well buy some SAM's and some Hawkeyes, we are never going to have an enough F35's to repulse a serious attack :-)
I hope you get hundreds of B's for the Corps, and plenty of A and C's too - but totally the wrong aircraft for Canada.