LM and JSF Program Office offer Canada F-35 "swap"

a reply to: Zaphod58

So essentially, these sensors give the pilot the ability to do things without an AWACS that they would otherwise need one for. That helps clarify things for me.

It will be interesting to see what the U.S does next. They can't be happy with the idea of the F-35 being their sole multirole solution in future generations and must have something else coming down the pipe.

Most target will be toast in no time when they put a laser on that baby
Why do you think it need so must more power than the average plane

a reply to: Trillium

For the sensors. The laser is years away from even being prototyped onto an F-35.

a reply to: snypwsd
When was the decision made to purchase the 4 Upholder/Victoria class submarines and who was in power when that decision was made?
The answers are 1998 and the Chretien Liberal government.

When were they received by the RCN and who was in power?
The answers are between 2000 and 2004 and the Liberals under Chretien and then Martin.

You can't blame everything on Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.

There may be problems with the purchase of F-35s but you can't lay every bad military purchase decision at the feet of Harper and the Conservatives.

Canada should just be leasing these aircraft anyway. Who is Canada National Park kidding? We are completely integrated with the US in the most important aspects of life anyway, hockey and television. Why carry on the pretense of independence in the military?

If Canada wants to play the part of America's "mini-me" and contribute billions of dollars to America's effort to bring a quick end to civilization as we know it, we should be negotiating for a branch of the "skunkworks" up here. Tell the Americans we will build any kind of R&D facility they want, to help bring the cost of their air operations down. That way we get something useful out of this tap dance, advanced technology and training for engineers and technicians in the latest black magic.

We will help build the crap but we don't want to own. We'll lease some of the newest model whenever they roll off the line.

We shouldn't be buying silly toys at tens of millions a copy, especially if they don't work right.