[EyeBrock]

BeaverFever BeaverFever:

Interesting. That sounds like a one-way ground-air system though but im sure an early precursor. Current IFF allows the pilot to "interrogate" a targeted aircraft or ground vehicle prior to firing on it.

All NATO aircraft that fly in US controlled airspace have IFF. When I was flogging around tin he back of a C130, we had a few U/S nightstops in nice places while we waited for a replacement IFF. That was the late 1980's and IFF had been around for a long time then.

[BeaverFever]

Hmm thought it was one of the new technologies they showcased in Destert Storm. I guess that just meant it was post-Vietnam invention.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

BeaverFever BeaverFever:

Hmm thought it was one of the new technologies they showcased in Destert Storm. I guess that just meant it was post-Vietnam invention.

IIRC it was a new version of IFF that had a separate, specialized transponder that allowed it operate without radar. But IFF using coded radar signals were in use from 1940-1991 with the earliest version of IFF being invented in Germany in 1940 (Freya and Wurzburg)
I believe the newer version gives the ability to "interrogate" an object when there is no IFF response.
It's been awhile since I boned up on it so someone will probably correct me

[bootlegga]

The real decision to be made is how much we're willing to spend on our next fighter.

If we're willing to spend $100 million+ per airframe, then the Typhoon is the best bet - if we're going to want cheaper (although not that much cheaper), then buy the Super Hornet.

[EyeBrock]

Too many reasons not to buy the Typhoon. It will have to be the F18E.

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Too many reasons not to buy the Typhoon. It will have to be the F18E.

I'm sure there are many good reasons, but I have to admit, mine is purely emotive. As much as Canada is to blame for its crappy subs, I still keep some of my ire for our cousins across the pond.

Thanks guys.

[EyeBrock]

Blaming the Brits for the subs is a cop-out Gunny. The blame lies with Canada, the government, DND and the RCN.

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Blaming the Brits for the subs is a cop-out Gunny. The blame lies with Canada, the government, DND and the RCN.

Repeat - fucking forums!

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Blaming the Brits for the subs is a cop-out Gunny. The blame lies with Canada, the government, DND and the RCN.

Repeat

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Blaming the Brits for the subs is a cop-out Gunny. The blame lies with Canada, the government, DND and the RCN.

Repeat - forums are really pissing me off these days.

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Blaming the Brits for the subs is a cop-out Gunny. The blame lies with Canada, the government, DND and the RCN.

I think you missed that I do blame Canada and have always blamed Canada. The subs were obviously not in the best of shape though, so some blame can go to the UK for selling them to an ally in the first place.

[EyeBrock]

They weren't exactly sold. The Feds took them as rent for BATUS and YYR. The Brits have been selling time-ex'd and surplus ships for decades. They come as-is and the cost was a fraction of the real cost to the UK taxpayers. Canada made a mistake. I got you recognised that but I don't get why you are pissed at the Brits.

[bootlegga]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

They weren't exactly sold. The Feds took them as rent for BATUS and YYR. The Brits have been selling time-ex'd and surplus ships for decades. They come as-is and the cost was a fraction of the real cost to the UK taxpayers. Canada made a mistake. I got you recognised that but I don't get why you are pissed at the Brits.

Selling/giving surplus kit is common throughout NATO - we sold CF-104s and some CF-105s to Turkey, bought used Leo 2s from the Netherlands, gave a several divisions worth of WW2 equipment to Belgium and the Netherlands when NATO was founded, etc. The history of similar deals goes way, way back.

As always, it's buyer beware and we didn't do our homework on those subs.

My conspiracy theory is that DND was desperate to keep submarine capabilty and glossed over some of the more serious issues when they inspected, knowing full well that the government wouldn't buy new subs, but would fork over money to re-furbish them after we got them to Canada.

[BeaverFever]

$1:

My conspiracy theory is that DND was desperate to keep submarine capabilty and glossed over some of the more serious issues when they inspected, knowing full well that the government wouldn't buy new subs, but would fork over money to re-furbish them after we got them to Canada.

Bingo. I'm sure DND thought it was either this or lose submarine capability forever.

[Shadow_Flanker]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Shadow_Flanker Shadow_Flanker:

The F-35 has been an overhyped cash hole for years and the Cons are just starting to realize that. Funny. Wonder they'll realize they should start focusing on all those defense related projects for that northen sovereingty drumbeat they've been singing for years.

I say dump the damn F-35 already and open up an international competition with the likes of the Indian MMRCA.

My plan B would be the F18 E/F. Makes more sense than a dodgy Russian or Indian aircraft.

I think you miss read the last sentence my good man. I'm refering to the long and thourough competition India had initiated back in 2007 and ended just recently at the end of January 2012.

In the Indian MMRCA (Medium-MultiRole Combat Aircraft), the Indian Air Force put together around 635-650 different parameters, with almost a year long flight tests of each competitor* jet in India. The MMRCA also includes various economic and industrial offsets along with ToT (Transfer of Technology) garantees and life cycle cost of maintaining the jet.

This is the kind of process and competition Canada should have to replace our fleet of CF-18s instead of going right to a single source (ie: like we are doing with the F-35) without any comparisons or evaluation.

*MMRCA competitors; F/A-18E-F Super Hornet, F-16IN Super Viper, Jas-39 GrippenNG, MIG-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale. Finalists were declared back in April 2011 (Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale), with the winner declared at the end of January 2012; Dassault Rafale.