Pressure increases on [Canada] to stay or leave F-35 program

[ricnunes]

476 pages later

It's FINALLY OFFICIAL:

Canada strikes C$19 bln deal for Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets

OTTAWA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Canada finalized a deal to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) on Monday in a C$19 billion ($14.2 billion) project to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft.

Canada expects the first F-35s to be delivered in 2026 and for the fleet to be fully operational between 2032 and 2034, Defense Minister Anita Anand told a news conference.

The F-35 "is the most advanced fighter on the market and it is the right aircraft for our country," Anand told reporters, adding the purchase and maintenance could contribute over C$425 million annually to the Canadian economy and close to 3,300 jobs annually. Anand said it was the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 30 years.

...

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerosp ... 023-01-09/

Canada Announces the Procurement of the F-35 Lightning II

January 09, 2023

The Government of Canada announced today it is procuring Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft as a result of the Future Fighter Capability Project competition.

The Royal Canadian Air Force will receive 88 F-35A multirole stealth fighters, a sustainment solution tailored to Canada’s sovereign requirements and a comprehensive training program.

“Canada is our friend and a close ally. Their decision to procure almost 90 jets underscores the value of the incredible F-35 Lightning II,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office. “The F-35 is the best in the world, providing unmatched interoperability to America, Canada and the additional 15 nations that have selected the fighter. It is a global game-changer. Through power-projection, the F-35 is at the tip of the spear for deterrence. Its forward presence will continue to ensure that potential adversaries choose diplomacy over armed conflict.”

“We are honored the Government of Canada has selected the F-35, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian defence industry to deliver and sustain the aircraft,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “The selection of F-35 strengthens allied airpower in Canada, North America and around the world.”

The F-35 strengthens Canada’s operational capability with its allies as a cornerstone for interoperability with NORAD and NATO. As a critical node in the 21st Century Security mission space, the F-35 gives pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.
“Together with our Canadian industry partners, we are honoured by this selection and the sustainment of critical jobs that will continue to equip Canadian workforces with advanced skills,” said Lorraine Ben, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Canada. “The F-35 program yields tremendous economic benefits for Canada’s aerospace and defence industry, and we look forward to continued growth.”
To date, the F-35 operates from 27 bases worldwide, with nine nations operating F-35s on their home soil. There are more than 890 F-35s in service today, with more than 1,870 pilots and 13,500 maintainers trained on the aircraft.

Source:
https://www.f35.com/f35/news-and-featur ... ement.html

[optimist]

Some said it would never happen. Including the current prime minister.
What's included in the sale, isn't up yet
https://www.dsca.mil/search/node?keys=canada+f-35

[spazsinbad]

Canada strikes deal to buy F-35s from Lockheed, as CF-18s retire
10 Jan 2023 Stephen Losey

"WASHINGTON — Canada on Monday announced plans to buy 88 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters for CA$19 billion (U.S. $14 billion).

Defence Minister Anita Anand said in an online briefing the Royal Canadian Air Force would receive its first four Lockheed Martin-made F-35s in 2026, with the next six in 2027 and another six in 2028. The remainder would come in subsequent years....

...Canada expects the full F-35 fleet to be delivered in time for the service to phase the older fighters out by the end of 2032....

Anand acknowledged Canada’s colder temperatures make for a “unique” operating environment, and said the F-35 was selected after a “robust” decision process that took the weather into account. She pointed to Norway’s success in flying the fighter, as well as the United States’ experience flying it in Alaska, adding that Canada will take steps to ensure its F-35s can operate in the Arctic.

Canada will ensure its F-35s have dragchute capabilities to land on “short, icy, wet Arctic runways,” Anand said, and that its fighters have true north navigation capabilities, rather than magnetic north, to allow it to fly accurately deep into the Arctic.

Anand said Canada will build operational and training squadron facilities, including maintenance bays and simulator training, at two of its military bases: Bagotville in Quebec and Cold Lake in Alberta.

Anand also said Canada is investing in a series of infrastructure upgrades nationwide to better support North American Aerospace Defense Command and F-35 operations...."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/01 ... 8s-retire/

[Corsair1963]

At least Canada is getting a sizable number of F-35As. (88) Which, is more than Australia at this point........

[jhk]

Canada will ensure its F-35s have drag chute capabilities to land on “short, icy, wet Arctic runways,” Anand said, and that its fighters have true north navigation capabilities, rather than magnetic north, to allow it to fly accurately deep into the Arctic.

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/01 ... 8s-retire/

Why was the use of true north-based navigation specified? Is magnetic north still prevalent in commercial/military aviation, or is this just fluff to quell some of the "unsuitable for Arctic operations" speculation? Or am I missing some other context here?

[optimist]

At least Canada is getting a sizable number of F-35As. (88) Which, is more than Australia at this point........

That may change with the March announcement.

[mor10]

Canada will ensure its F-35s have drag chute capabilities to land on “short, icy, wet Arctic runways,” Anand said, and that its fighters have true north navigation capabilities, rather than magnetic north, to allow it to fly accurately deep into the Arctic.

What the hell. Did she pick up the wrong press release, the one for the CF-104?

[Corsair1963]

At least Canada is getting a sizable number of F-35As. (88) Which, is more than Australia at this point........

That may change with the March announcement.

From who? (Australia or Canada)

[spazsinbad]

OFFICIAL SPEECH: Announcement regarding the F-35 acquisition From: National Defence 09 Jan 2023

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-nat ... ition.html

Grafik: https://alert5.com/wp-content/uploads/2 ... A-eZo1.jpg

[optimist]

At least Canada is getting a sizable number of F-35As. (88) Which, is more than Australia at this point........

That may change with the March announcement.

From who? (Australia or Canada)

The Australian March announcement is looking at another 24 F-35, which will bring it to 96

[luke_sandoz]

The debate in Canada apparently rages on . . .

[pakal]

The debate in Canada apparently rages on . . .

Confusion between US$ and Can$ ?

[ricnunes]

The debate in Canada apparently rages on . . .

I don't have that much respect for Trudeau but what's in that image is disingenuous at best!
First, the F-35 jets themselves costs neither $138.5 or 215.9 million dollars (either USD or CAD) per aircraft! They cost the same as the US/USAF for example pays for them.
It's actually known that the cost of the first four (4) Canadian F-35s is $85 million USD (US Dollars) per aircraft. See source at the end.

Then and with this being said, the majority of costs of this deal is associated with infrastructure and other supports costs. Of course the infrastructure and other support costs for a fleet of 88 aircraft will always be superior compared to the same support costs for a fleet of ("only") 65 aircraft - we're talking about a fleet with 35% more aircraft. And then there's of course inflation (since 2010/2011).

Anyway:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada ... -1.6707769

A senior defence official, speaking on background, said the F-35 will be purchased in phases and that the first tranche of four aircraft will cost $85 million US per plane.

[luke_sandoz]

What Billy said . . .

https://billieflynn.com/a-good-day-for-the-rcaf/

[Corsair1963]

The debate in Canada apparently rages on . . .

I don't have that much respect for Trudeau but what's in that image is disingenuous at best!
First, the F-35 jets themselves costs neither $138.5 or 215.9 million dollars (either USD or CAD) per aircraft! They cost the same as the US/USAF for example pays for them.
It's actually known that the cost of the first four (4) Canadian F-35s is $85 million USD (US Dollars) per aircraft. See source at the end.

Then and with this being said, the majority of costs of this deal is associated with infrastructure and other supports costs. Of course the infrastructure and other support costs for a fleet of 88 aircraft will always be superior compared to the same support costs for a fleet of ("only") 65 aircraft - we're talking about a fleet with 35% more aircraft. And then there's of course inflation (since 2010/2011).

Anyway:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada ... -1.6707769

A senior defence official, speaking on background, said the F-35 will be purchased in phases and that the first tranche of four aircraft will cost $85 million US per plane.

I have no respect for Trudeau at all. He used the early troubles with the program and the fact the Conservatives didn't want to hold a Fighter Competition (complete waste of time and resources) as some big conspiracy/corruption. Which, he used as a weapon to attack his political opponents. While, he could careless about the Canadian Warfighter and Taxpayer. (or NATO for that matter)