[Newsbot]

Title: DND has no Plan B for F-35 delays; drones not an option for fewer fighters
Category: Military
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2012-02-15 23:22:30
Canadian

[saturn_656]

$1:

Other allies, such as Australia, have placed orders for Super Hornets � the newer, beefed up version of the CF-18 � to hedge against F-35 delays.

I've seen this bit about Australia picking Super Hornets due to F-35 delays in quite a few articles.

I don't know who came up with it ('cause it's BS), but the Aussies bought the Super Bug to fill in for the retiring F-111 which was near end of life. Not because of F-35 delays.

[bootlegga]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

$1:

Other allies, such as Australia, have placed orders for Super Hornets � the newer, beefed up version of the CF-18 � to hedge against F-35 delays.

I've seen this bit about Australia picking Super Hornets due to F-35 delays in quite a few articles.

I don't know who came up with it ('cause it's BS), but the Aussies bought the Super Bug to fill in for the retiring F-111 which was near end of life. Not because of F-35 delays.

The fact is that planes suffer metal fatigue and eventually need to be replaced - and the F-18 is closing on 40 years of service with both Canada and Australia.

It may not be a long term replacement for the F-18, but it is a good short term move in case the F-35 program falls apart or continues with this almost comical string of overruns, delays and setbacks. Who knows when/if F-35 deliveries will take place? At least Australia will something to patrol the skies if the delays continue.

We can't say that...

[bootlegga]

$1:

"We don't have this notion of a Plan B. Currently Canada doesn't see the need for it (because) we are committed to the F-35 program," Lt.-Gen. Andre Deschamps, head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

That's the problem with not having a proper RFP - if we had held a competition, we'd at least have an idea of what might also suit our needs.