"The F-35 doesn't work." With these words, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured below left) once again reiterated the Canadian government's position on the JSF affair. The Canadian government would be ready to equip itself with three squadrons Super Hornet, via rapid takeover in the name of national security, as an interim solution to replace the current CF-18 fleet. A political solution that would save the current government on the final decision on the F-35 affair.
In short, if Canada were to buy the F-35 it would do so only after 2020, for a decision that would still be up to the next government.
The previous government - said Trudeau in the House of Commons last Tuesday - made a mess with the new fighter, they left us a mess that we are about to solve.
"Canadians are well aware that for 10 years, Conservatives have completely ignored what our military really needed. They were holding on to an aircraft, the F-35, which is not working and is far from actually operational."
In their defense platform, the Liberal Party stated that the primary role of the new Canadian fighter aircraft will be to contribute to the defense of North America, which is why it would make no sense to invest in a tactical platform. stealth.
Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, from Ottawa last week, said Canada will have to decide immediately considering commitments with NORAD and NATO.
Canada was interested in version A of the F-35 which currently costs 108 million dollars. The F-35 was one of the greatest political concerns for the conservative government. The Liberal government originally signed up for the JSF research and development program, but the conservatives have significantly expanded Canada's role and preliminarily engaged the government to buy the aircraft. But to deal with disputes over the real cost of the F-35, the government has tried to hide the true end price of the aircraft.
The Canadian Department of Homeland Defense originally claimed that the JSF program would cost $ 14,7 billion in total. Figure then denied. The estimate for the adoption of the F-35 platform (for 65 fighters) was $ 29 billion. The exit of Canada, or in any case the freezing of the acquisition for at least ten years, will result in an increase of one million dollars in the final price of each aircraft. The development program, which will end in 2017, will not be delayed, but international partners will also be forced to absorb Canada's share (2,1%) for the costs of livelihood and modernization.
(photo: Lockheed Martin / Twitter)
