Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) News and Discussions

Another R&D instalment payment has been paid into the JSF program bringing the total to half a billion, minimal considering it is over a 20 year period.

Canada invests another $54M into F-35 as Boeing hedges on fighter competition

John Fedup said:

Perhaps we will know if new units are to be bought today but I think "new" might be the the 7 VH-71 being put into service.

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Leaving discussions of new and upgraded airframes to one side for a moment, during the week I managed to watch an episode of Mighty Planes which focussed on the work of the RCAF’s 442 Squadron operating out of Comix BC with a mix of CC-115 Buffalos and CH-149 Cormorants.

They have a large area to cover because according to the RCAF’s website, the squadron is responsible for a region that consists of approximately 920,000 square kilometres of mainly mountainous terrain of Yukon and British Columbia and 560,000 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean extending to approximately 600 nautical miles offshore.

Their training serials seemed to focus on the effective use of the fixed wing and helicopter resources in tandem and the deployment of their search and rescue technicians (SARTechs) capability by parachute to quickly get on-scene.

Seemed to me that Canada has developed a very mature and skilled SAR capability but with only 6 Buffalos left hopefully the arrival of the new C-295s from 2019 will avoid any gaps and only enhance that capability.

Yes the C-295s will provide relief for the for the Buffalos. If additional FWSAR aircraft are temporarily needed prior to C-295 delivery, I imagine C-130s would be brought in. Helicopter availability will remain dicey for some time yet. Clearly 15 Cormorants (now 14) were not enough. We can thank that POS Chrétien for the shortfall.

Short article on the possible consequences for American defence firms due to Trump's tariffs. At this point it isn't critical but new tariffs and the possible collapse of NAFTA will certainly put Euro fighters back in contention against the current favourite, the F-35. The SH is DOA IMHO due to Boeing's action against the C-Series.

Trade dispute could leave U.S. firms out of the running to sell military equipment to Canada

This news snippet on front page but link has nothing becuz SUBSCRIPTION so there is just this and a graphic:

Canada increases Hornet buy 14 Jun 2018 Julian Kerr ADM

"Canada has increased the number of F/A-18 A/B ‘classic’ Hornet fighters it wants to buy from Australia from 18 to 25, a Senate Estimates hearing has been told."

Canada increases Hornet buy - Australian Defence Magazine

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That’s a further indication of how far the new fighter replacement is likely going to be.

Apparently Canada spent $1.6 million dollars to ship $5 million worth of military supplies to Ukraine. Sure would like to know what was involved in shipping this stuff given the cost!

Where are those missing Canadian military sleeping bags? Try Ukraine

SpazSinbad said:

This news snippet on front page but link has nothing becuz SUBSCRIPTION so there is just this and a graphic:
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Apparently the legacy Australian Hornets have considerably less airframe hours than their Canadian cousins.
The linked item reports that the average hours for the RCAF jets are around 6,000 and the RAAF classics around 4,000.
This fact and the similar upgrade path is given as the reason why the Australian Hornets are wanted to keep the RCAF fighter force going until the mid 2020s.

Buying Vintage: Examining the RCAF’s Acquisition of F/A-18 A/B Fighters from Australia | CDA Institute

ASSAIL said:

Apparently the legacy Australian Hornets have considerably less airframe hours than their Canadian cousins.
The linked item reports that the average hours for the RCAF jets are around 6,000 and the RAAF classics around 4,000.
This fact and the similar upgrade path is given as the reason why the Australian Hornets are wanted to keep the RCAF fighter force going until the mid 2020s.

Buying Vintage: Examining the RCAF’s Acquisition of F/A-18 A/B Fighters from Australia | CDA Institute

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I am surprised that the Australian Hornets are so lightly used. They still have a third of their airframe life left. I guess all that talk of pilot shortages is true.

Mind you it means that the Canadians have shown an amazing lack of urgency in replacing their F-18s given that they have already reached their originally designed airframe life and still seem to be no closer to replacing them.

hauritz said:

Mind you it means that the Canadians have shown an amazing lack of urgency in replacing their F-18s given that they have already reached their originally designed airframe life and still seem to be no closer to replacing them.

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No pressure from the electorate has allowed successive governments to put off defence recapitalization. Then, even when money has been allocated, our dysfunctional military procurement bureaucracy takes years to actually purchase anything.

So junior’s promise of Canada’s back for peace keeping ( peace keeping in Mali? what an oxymoron). The two Uber expensive Chinooks will be out at risk in place where Canada has zero national interest and they will be protected not by helicopter gunships but 20 + year utility helicopters. Typical junior. At least Trump named this place correctly.

In Mali, Canada’s flying pick-ups are no replacement for European helicopters - iPolitics

2 RCAF Hornets and a C-130 flying the Mach Loop

I wonder what Jnr thinks of this?

Not looking good for Jnr cant knock it back on price alone if the get it down to $88m a copy.

Exclusive: Lockheed F-35 jet price falls 6 percent to below $90...

Last summer, Reuters reported that F-35 customers including Australia, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, South Korea, Britain and the United States had aimed to procure 135 or more jets in fiscal year 2018 for delivery in 2020 for about $88 million per jet.

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Junior thinks? Just kidding, right?

Canada may have another option for their P-3 Orion replacement. Airbus has announced plans to use the A320 as a MPA, the A320M3. So if Canada starts its procurement process now, it just might be in a position to order some by 2035 when it is due to enter service in Europe if Airbus succeeds in the Franco - German future maritime airborne warfare system project.

ngatimozart said:

Canada may have another option for their P-3 Orion replacement. Airbus has announced plans to use the A320 as a MPA, the A320M3. So if Canada starts its procurement process now, it just might be in a position to order some by 2035 when it is due to enter service in Europe if Airbus succeeds in the Franco - German future maritime airborne warfare system project.

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Interesting, seems to be creating their own market in anticipation of Boeing closing the P8 line , might also be a two fingered salute to Trump “ we will spend 2% but we will keep that money in Europe “

John Fedup said:

Another R&D instalment payment has been paid into the JSF program bringing the total to half a billion, minimal considering it is over a 20 year period.

Canada invests another $54M into F-35 as Boeing hedges on fighter competition

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It seems bonkers that Canada are continuing to invest in a fighter that they are purportedly not interested in buying. They will no doubt waste many more millions running a competition against the F-35 and the increasing outdated Euro-fighters.

ngatimozart said:

Canada may have another option for their P-3 Orion replacement. Airbus has announced plans to use the A320 as a MPA, the A320M3. So if Canada starts its procurement process now, it just might be in a position to order some by 2035 when it is due to enter service in Europe if Airbus succeeds in the Franco - German future maritime airborne warfare system project.

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The timeline is right and if the anti-Boeing mood still prevails here in 2035, an Airbus MPA that works will be purchased assuming we aren’t bankrupt by then.

hauritz said:

It seems bonkers that Canada are continuing to invest in a fighter that they are purportedly not interested in buying. They will no doubt waste many more millions running a competition against the F-35 and the increasing outdated Euro-fighters.

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The F-35 price capability ratio is now so good it is the only real choice now. The biggest political obstacle is now Trump instead of junior, he is absolutely despised here by left and right. If junior is still around and Trump wins a second term, no purchase order until 2025.

John Fedup said:

The F-35 price capability ratio is now so good it is the only real choice now. The biggest political obstacle is now Trump instead of junior, he is absolutely despised here by left and right. If junior is still around and Trump wins a second term, no purchase order until 2025.

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Disdain for POTUS is a facile reason for not equipping the airforce with what it needs.
The Defence profesionals must be removing their collective folicals in despair while this debacle continues.