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Defence analysts warn U.S. will control key systems on F-35 fighter jets, putting Canada at risk (ottawacitizen.com)

submitted 2 months ago by NightOwl@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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Supporters of Canada’s F-35 purchase point to the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts that Canadian companies have earned by supplying parts for the U.S. aircraft. That, in turn, has sustained or created Canadian aerospace jobs. But on Feb. 28, the National Post reported that Trump has told Lockheed Martin he wants those jobs back in the U.S. when the Canadian contracts come up for renewal.

During the 2015 election campaign, Justin Trudeau vowed his government would never purchase the F-35.

As prime minister, Trudeau continued to point out the Canadian military had no need for the F-35 and he blamed the Conservatives for agreeing to purchase a problem-plagued fighter jet. But, with the 2023 announcement, the Liberals not only committed to the acquisition, but also increased the number of jets to be bought to 88 from the 65 the Conservatives had wanted.

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[-] sunfur82@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 months ago

I remember before the purchase was made, I was really hoping the government would purchase the Swedish Saab Gripen. I think it was one of the finalists for consideration (that's what I remembered from a few news casts at the time, but not sure if it was an actual finalist, or just someone saying they thought it would be a good option.)

The main reason for me thinking we should have gone with the Saab, was that I trusted buying from Sweden more than the US. I can see the US putting some systems in place that could give them control or some way to negatively affect the F-35s. I remember someone saying that countries don't have friends, only interests, but I'd still trust Sweden more than the US to not betray us in some way.

[-] bufalo1973@lemm.ee 6 points 2 months ago

There's a problem with the engine. It's an US design and the US just blocked a sell to Colombia. I think Saab should make another design with the Typhoon engine or some other European engine that has roughly the same size and push.

[-] alcoholicorn@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago

Saab Gripen

The fighter from the 80s?

[-] sunfur82@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 months ago

Yes, but it's been updated a lot since then, I think the current iteration is the E-series.

[-] bufalo1973@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago

F16 (70s)? F18 (70s)? B2 (80s)? F22 (80s)?

[-] PanArab@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

The F22 is not from the 1980s.

[-] bufalo1973@lemm.ee 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It's design is from the 80s. It was first built in the 90s. The maiden flight of the prototype was in 1990.

[-] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The US is still reliant on the B-52 for most of it's bombing, and it's from... 1952.

In both cases, the internals have been utterly and completely updated, and the shape of airframe basically isn't broken and doesn't need fixing.

[-] khannie@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

The biggest issue would be stopping sharing spares. Given the current government's proclivity for using any leverage they can get their hands on.... Well.... I'd be nervous if I'd bought them.

[-] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It was a serious finalist, and that's even more impressive when you considered that our airforce went into the bid already knowing they wanted the F-35.

They kept the bid's website up, and IIRC basically said "we're around if you change your mind".

I remember someone saying that countries don’t have friends, only interests

Charles de Gaulle. He was full of shit on that one, though. Countries have domestic politics.

[-] sunfur82@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago

I would love if they actually did follow through and go with the Saab. I don't know how difficult it would be to get out of the contract (probably impossible at this point), but I just feel we need to start relying on other countries for comparable products, including military hardware.

I didn't know it was Charles De Gaulle who said that line, I remember the first time I heard that was from a Youtuber called 'Beau of the Fifth Column'. I wasn't aware he may have been quoting him.