Canada to buy Super Hornets...but fear of a lawsuit is the real story!

Thanks to Slowman for the link!

via National Post.

The Liberal government is intent on buying Super Hornet fighter jets, according to multiple sources.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet reportedly discussed the issue last week, and while no formal decision was taken, one top-level official said: “They have made up their minds and are working on the right narrative to support it.”
Rather than a full replacement of the air force’s aging CF-18 fighter fleet, it’s believed the purchase will be labelled an interim measure to fill what Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has warned is a pending “gap” in Canada’s military capabilities.
The Liberals promised during the election campaign not to buy the F-35 to replace the CF-18s. But the government has been struggling with how to fulfil that promise for fear any attempt to exclude the stealth fighter from a competition will result in a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit, according to one senior Defence Department official.

Everyone is "pumped up" about this news that Canada is going to buy Super Hornets.  What has me marveling is that everyone is missing (including the authors of the piece) the real story here.

But the government has been struggling with how to fulfil that promise for fear any attempt to exclude the stealth fighter from a competition will result in a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit, according to one senior Defence Department official.

Canada will fight terrorist in Afghanistan and Iraq without fear or hesitation.  The idea of a Lockheed Martin lawsuit gives them pause.  Which is why the wording of this buy is so important.  They'll label it as an interim buy but don't be confused.  This is a smokescreen.  The F-35 has been ruled out and the Trudeau govt is living up to its promise while playing the corporate game.

They'll tell the Joint Program Office and LM that they're still studying the issue and that the F-35 is still under consideration, but don't be confused.

Canada has all but opted out (officially) of the F-35 program.  They have only one goal left.  To milk this project for all the jobs they can for as long as they can while they buy Boeing fighters!