We thought the aircraft deal was dead. After months free of hype for the purchase of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning (II), we thought the civil servants, the military and the Harper government had finally put finis on buying that aircraft. Maybe that was only until they are sending some of our few F-18 Hornets in harms way to help Ukraine.
If those aging Hornets start shooting at someone who can shoot back, we are going to be in immediate need of some new aircraft. It turns out that in Ottawa the wheels are greased for the return of the totally inadequate Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning. The government appears to be delaying the announcement of the return as they debate how to handle the new price tag of US$92 million per aircraft instead of the original US$50 million
But the reason you sometimes hear the F-35 called the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is because the entire plan is to keep the United States in control. The plan is to have all American allies not only pay dues to be members of the American Flying Club but to keep on paying throughout the life cycle of the aircraft. And Stephen Harper and his friends so dearly want to be members of the American’s club.
It matters little that the F-35 is the wrong type of aircraft for Canada’s needs. Membership in the club is more important. This is also despite the Americans refusing to release the software needed to repair the aircraft. The Americans want to keep control by keeping the software from their allies. And, in case our software experts crack the code, we will find that the software we get is not the same nor as complete as the Americans use in their own aircraft—so much for working together.
If we really want an American aircraft, we should only consider buying the F-22 Raptor. This aircraft is much faster and is a twin engine aircraft with the range to cover our north. The F-35 cannot cross our Arctic without being refuelled. And nobody has come up with stealth aircraft for refuelling.
Mind you, the Americans are refusing to sell any F-22 Raptors to their allies. For some reason, they want to keep this really stealthy and sophisticated aircraft to themselves. For treatment such as this Canada cancelled the Avro C-105 Arrow!
-30-
Copyright 2014 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]