Forum: Program and politics

What are the long term affects of this? Is it good or bad? Will it affect the world economy?

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Sounds like a good idea if they want the most capable 5th generation multirole fighter in the world. I imagine it will have positive effects for partner nation economies, not necessarily the global economy.

Honestly it won't make much of a difference whether they buy or not. The Canadian order barely registers when compared to the total program , though their jets do start fairly early in the production ramp-up.

The usual anti-F-35 crowd are jumping all over this as an opportunity to criticize the program, but this may actually prove to be a positive if Canada actually prices out what a Eurofighter, Rafale or Super Hornet acquisition would cost to purchase and sustain and the numbers become public.

IMO, no link but it's probably a 12 to 14 billion advantage to Canada's economy through Lockheed Canada, Pratt & Whitney amongst many other suppliers of parts, panels, systems & support. This why I believe Canada will acquire the F-35. The manufacturing contracts have been growing since 1997. Does Canada want to pull down (brick by brick) the half finished pyramid & start over?

There may be no choice.

Canada has the contracts secured beyond our 65 jet original purchase idea. Canada has contracts on most of all the F-35's to be built. People don't realize that. Go ahead my home & native land...kill the golden goose so Lockheed can redistribute contracts to Turkey.

If Canada were to pull out of the F-35 program as a whole then it would impact the Canadian aerospace industry. They would deserve to lose any F-35 related contracts and lose options to bid on them. Other countries and their industry will demand it (trust me - people like myself will be pushing for it!). And foolishly thinking that any other platform will offer the same industrial opportunities is a misguided.

gtx wrote:

If Canada were to pull out of the F-35 program as a whole then it would impact the Canadian aerospace industry. They would deserve to lose any F-35 related contracts and lose options to bid on them. Other countries and their industry will demand it (trust me - people like myself will be pushing for it!). And foolishly thinking that any other platform will offer the same industrial opportunities is a misguided.

Oh didn't you hear, the US Navy is ordering another 500 F/A-18E/F Block III+ & EA-18G+ aircraft and some major components will be made in Canada Very Happy

* I'm being sarcastic. The Navy order may extend production by 20-50 aircraft, depending on budget but nowhere near 500. All will be made in St Louis.

As with all military purchases, it has an unknowable (but very large) benefit of enabling trade by maintaining peace, but a the same negative effect that all government spending has in terms of opportunity costs of capital and manpower. I don't think anyone can really put a number on the net benefit, but I would judge it to be significantly positive.
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Oh, you meant for Canada specifically?
I can't really speak to that. Too much I don't know about the specific international interactions.

Thanks for the replies everyone

Forum: Program and politics

How would Canada purchasing the F-35 impact the economy?