Canada will have to choose between two very different aircraft models

Grand
Dossier

Expenses
in defense

2. Fighter planes

After ten years of procrastination, the Canadian government is preparing to choose a replacement for our aging CF-18s at a cost of close to $ 20 billion.

Two planes are in the ranks, an American and a Swedish, with very different characteristics. We present them to you here.

A third aircraft, the Boeing Super Hornet, was also in the running until the end of last year. Ottawa decided to eliminate him in a surprise gesture.

Anyway, the idea of ​​making a choice is not unanimous. Some suggest rather wait, since they consider that the favorite of the race, the F-35, is a lame duck.

This is the case of Normand Lester, columnist for the Journal, who believes that the F-35 presents too many reliability problems to be considered a valid possibility.

A turkey

In his opinion, the F-35 even deserves the nickname “flying turkey,” he wrote in one of his columns.

Mr Lester suggests targeting the next generation of fighters, the one that will no longer need pilots to fly.

The F-35, from the American company Lockheed Martin, is the most technologically advanced of the two planes in the running for the future Canadian fighter plane. But it is also the most expensive and the most controversial. Launched in the late 1990s, its development, in which 13 countries participated, including Canada, stretched for more than two decades. The United States has ordered a massive number, nearly 2,500 copies, available in three versions, which will equip the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps. About fifteen other countries have also bought them.

Characteristics

The F-35 is a 5th generation fighter and therefore has a sharp angled design that allows it to escape radar. The missiles and bombs it carries can be hidden in compartments to reduce radar detection. It is offered in two other versions: one vertical takeoff and the other adapted to aircraft carriers.

Defaults

Due to its complex technology, the F-35 is expensive. In the United States, the program experienced engine supply issues and several technical failures. The device is powered by a single reactor. Previously, Canada had often preferred two-jet aircraft in the event of engine failure during Arctic patrols.

Purchase costs

Various figures have been mentioned, but the price paid by the last country to buy them offers a realistic indication. In December, Finland spent $ 190 million per aircraft for an order for 64 planes at a total price of $ 12.1 billion.

Canadian spinoffs

In recent statements, Lockheed Martin has indicated that the F-35 program will generate spinoffs for Canadian businesses of $ 16.9 billion through 2058, which is the life of the aircraft. Some companies, such as Héroux-Devtek, of Longueuil, already supply parts for American F-35s.

Photo LOCKHEED MARTIN

Futuristic helmet

The futuristic-capable F-35 helmet was designed specifically for the aircraft. Equipped with artificial vision, it allows you to literally see through the plane when looking out. The pilot can also direct missiles just with his gaze. It is worth $ 500,000 per copy.

Photo AFP

Like a video game

The F-35’s cockpit looks like a video game console. It has a large rectangular high-definition touch screen and two joysticks located on each side of the pilot. It also responds to voice commands.

Photo AdobeStock
The American company Lockheed Martin’s F-35.

The Gripen E, from the Swedish company Saab, is an improved version of an older original model, which made its very first flight in 1988. Its performance is more modest than that of the F-35. So far, only Brazil and Sweden have obtained them, in relatively limited numbers.

Characteristics

The Gripen E has a robust design and is simple and inexpensive to maintain. In Sweden, public roads are even used as landing strips for the plane. It is versatile and can therefore adapt to several different types of missions.

Defaults

It’s a small device. It weighs 40% less than the F-35. Its possibilities of integration with the American fighters, especially within the framework of the defense of the North American continent, might be limited, according to the opinion of several observers mentioned in the media.

Purchase costs

Several different figures are circulating. However, we know that Brazil has spent US $ 150 million ($ 190 million) per unit for the Gripen E. But it should be noted that this sum also includes the maintenance of the device until 2050.

Canadian spinoffs

Saab promises significant benefits. About 6,000 jobs would be created, including 3,000 in Quebec. The aircraft would be built in Halifax and a major center of excellence in aeronautical technology would be established in Montreal, and two others elsewhere in the country.

Photo SAAB
The Gripen E of the Swedish company Saab.

Courtesy Boeing

The Super Hornet of the American company Boeing.

Despite promises of significant fallout, the Super Hornet of the American company Boeing was withdrawn from the race last December by the Trudeau government.

There was no detailed explanation for the surprise announcement from Ottawa. We simply indicated that the aircraft did not meet the requirements for the new Canadian fighter jet.

However, Boeing promised spinoffs of $ 61 billion in Canada, including $ 14.8 billion in Quebec.

The Super Hornet, which first flew in 1995, is a vastly improved version of the CF-18 fighters already found in the Royal Canadian Air Force.