New Fighter Jet for Canada

Intro:

Canada is in the final stages of choosing a new fighter jet to replace its aging CF 188 fighters (F18s).  The competition demanded by the Trudeau Liberals is currently between the US Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and the Swedish SAAB Gripen ‘E’.

The United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have contributed billions towards development costs of the F35 in return for access by these nations for development and manufacture of parts.  Portions of the F35 production are however restricted to US companies and certain technologies are proprietary to the US and NOT transferable.  It is said that countries don’t so much “buy” the F35 as lease it.

SAAB on the other hand has offered full technological transfer, Canadian manufacture of the planes, and establishment of technology development centres in Canada for future upgrades and development of the aircraft.  The competition is essentially between a US made, US controlled, supposedly high tech, stealthy, very expensive airplane and a very much cheaper, slightly less high tech, highly capable Swedish made airplane.

Argument for the F35

The F35 is marketed as a 5^th generation aircraft.  There is of course no such thing.  Calling it a 5th generation aircraft is a marketing strategy not a meaningful technological fact. The operational characteristics of the F35 are little different from any other so called 4^th Gen aircraft.  What supposedly makes it a 5^th generation aircraft is its stealth.  Stealth is simply a new technological add-on and like all new technologies it will be effective only until counter technologies are available, which could be quite soon.  Stealth is by its nature a first-strike advantage.  Which is beneficial if you are going to conduct a sneak attack on another country.  A totally useless capability when talking about Canada.

Argument for SAAB Gripen

Gripen is a solid 4^th Gen aircraft designed by a minor world power for minor world powers.  A group which clearly includes Canada.  Gripen has every capability of the F35 except stealth which is included in the form of advanced electronic counter measures and advanced search capabilities.  Gripen’s design is optimized for quick and cheap operation and maintenance. Operation from minimal airfields, maneuverability, and upgradability are also benefits.  The Gripen is far cheaper than the F35 with the cost of four Gripens equal to the cost of only one F35.

Performance comparison

Speed – Gripen is faster

Rate of Climb – Gripen climbs faster

Maneuverability – Gripen is more maneuverable

Stealth – From 60 miles away, Gripen is harder to see

Conclusion.

Since stealth is of no real use to Canada ( who does Canada want to attack) and cost is a significant factor.  The only rational choice for Canada is the SAAB Gripen.  The only rational reason for the Canadian government to purchase the F35 aircraft would be direct US interference.

Canadian Defence Policy and US Pressure

Canadian defence policy and for that matter, all Canadian Government policies have for years been directed from or influenced by the US. and its military.  Examples go all the way back to the first two unseaworthy submarines bought from the US at the beginning of WW1.  Then there were useless WW1 Destroyers sold to Canada under the US’s most generous ‘Lend Junk take valuable military bases for free deal’, in WW2.  Then the scam that was the end of the Avro Arrow, and the latest defective, ‘off-the-shelf’ anti-submarine helicopters.  Why doesn’t Canada control their own military procurement.?  Consider this. Every senior officer in the Canadian forces, at some point spends considerable time assigned to the US military.  Supposedly this is to attain valuable experience.  But what if it is actually so that the US military can indoctrinate these officers to US propaganda.  Simply put, before Canadian officers get to high rank, they have already become pre-disposed to following US leadership.  It is hard to listen to a person who you have worked for and respected and not accept their input.  Yet it is also true that when you talk to the US government, you are talking to US corporations and the US military industrial establishment.  If there is something the US wants, they will develop a coordinated approach with common talking points from government to government, military to military and from corporations.  Government officials talk to their American counterparts and get their best advice.  Canadian Sr Officers talk to their previous commander (US officers) and get the real inside info which means the same talking points and the US corporation provides a flashy marketing plan.  All directed to one result.  And in the past it has always worked.

Canada needs to make a serious pivot away from US influence and toward independence.  The one thing that Donald Trump said that Canada needs to listen to is that in all countries it should be the governments position to think of their own country first.  Canada has much in common with Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Britain, France and Germany.  Development of far closer relations with them could only benefit Canada.  Consider Swedish planes and submarines, German- tanks, Norwegian – patrol corvettes

Immediate Changes in Direction

Step one – Buy Gripens, build them in Canada and from there start plans to upgrade and improve Canada’s military fighter capability with domestic technologies

Step two – consider either renegotiating, NORAD or leaving it.  NORAD is a system designed to  use Canada as a killing-zone to protect the US not Canada.  Missiles sent from Russia will be met by nuclear tipped anti-missile missiles that will blow up over Canada leaving thousands of square miles, of Canada, uninhabitable for centuries, while effectively leaving the US untouched. Sounds like a great strategy. Canada would need more aircraft and more airbases but would end up with better defence