Canadian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Jura said:

Dec 12, 2017
now Boeing still evaluating whether to bid for Canadian fighter contract
23 January, 2018

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Some 200 participants from seven countries took part in the first industry day for Canada’s proposed purchase of a new fighter jet, but one company was notably absent —

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.

Canada has announced it will buy 88 new aircraft in a project estimated to cost more than CA$16 billion (U.S. $12 billion), but Boeing has not said whether it will take part in the competition. Boeing has been involved in a dispute with Canada that started last year when the company asked the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate Canadian aerospace firm Bombardier.

Canadian officials said as many as 108 firms took part in Monday’s gathering that outlined the basic parameters for a next-generation fighter jet.

Canada will now develop a list of suppliers — foreign governments and their aircraft manufacturers — who have expressed interest in the Canadian program.

A request for proposals for the new jets is expected to be released in spring of 2019, said Troy Crosby, director general for defense major projects for Public Services and Procurement Canada, the federal department coordinating the acquisition. A contract would be awarded in 2021 or 2022.

Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale and Saab’s Gripen are aircraft that could be considered. Industry sources say representatives of those firms took part in the Canadian meeting.

Officials from Boeing were not involved, although members of the U.S. Navy, which operates the company’s Super Hornet jets, were present.

In Boeing’s dispute with Canada, the company claims that Canadian government subsidies allow Bombardier to sell its C Series passenger aircraft in the U.S. at cut-rate prices. As a result, the Trump administration brought in a tariff of almost 300 percent

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aircraft sold in the U.S.

In retaliation for Boeing’s actions, Canada canceled its plan to buy 18

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in a deal that would have been worth $5.23 billion.

It also added a new policy on the current fighter jet procurement that would penalize a bidder who has been “responsible for harming Canada’s economic interests.”

Boeing spokesman Scott Day said the firm believes the Super Hornet is a low-risk, low-cost approach that has all the advanced capabilities the Royal Canadian Air Force needs in the future. “We will evaluate our participation in Canada’s Future Fighter Capability project after the government of Canada outlines the FFCP procurement approach, requirements and evaluation criteria,” Day said.

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Jura said:

Sep 27, 2017

now Opinion: Why Boeing vs. Bombardier Is Really About China

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• 12 minutes ago

Bombardier has won a trade case in the United States, overturning a decision to impose damaging tariffs on imports of its C-Series aircraft.

The UK government had suspected that the Canadian aircraft manufacturer would lose. Unions had feared sales and UK jobs would be hit.

But in a surprise ruling, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) rejected a complaint brought by Boeing.

The ITC voted 4-0 in favour of Bombardier.

They ruled that there was no injury to US manufacturers, effectively forcing the US Commerce Department to reverse course on retaliatory countermeasures designed to protect Boeing.

Tariffs of 292% will not now be imposed on orders of C-Series planes by American carriers.

About 50 companies in the UK supply Bombardier with parts for the C-Series.

One thousand jobs in Belfast, where the wings for the plane are made, depend on its success.

A spokesperson for Bombardier said the ITC's decision was "a victory for innovation, competition and the rule of law."

"The C-Series is the most innovative and efficient new aircraft in a generation.," they said.

"Its development and production represent thousands of jobs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom."

A spokesperson for Boeing said it was "disappointed" by the ITC's decision and that it would "review the detailed conclusions when they are released".

Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary said it was "the right decision".

He said Bombardier workers in Northern Ireland and throughout the supply chain in UK "will be breathing a huge sigh of relief".

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philbob said:

Why didnt they change the name of the Astrix when they inducted it into service. When the ten years are up there is only going to be a limited market for it to be sold to.

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Jura said:

according to The Guardian Canada to buy fleet of 30-year-old fighter jets from Australia in snub to US

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Canada will squeeze even more flying time out of its aging CF-18s, keeping the jets operating for another 15 years.

There had been plans to take the jets out of service shortly after 2025.

But representatives from companies who took part in a Jan. 22 industry day outlining the Liberal government’s program to buy new fighter planes were told the RCAF will now keep the CF-18s operating until 2032.

The jets, first received in 1982, will be retired after 50 years of service.

Some aerospace industry sources, however, question whether the 2032 retirement is set in stone since any delays in the purchase of new jets could alter that schedule.

The first replacement aircraft for the CF-18s will arrive in 2025 but the deliveries of the 88 planes would not be completed until 2030, according to the federal government documents distributed to industry representatives at the Jan. 22 meeting in Ottawa.

The CF-18s have been upgraded over the years. In 2001 a modernization project was launched to allow the planes to continue operating until 2017-2020.

Structural improvements to maintain the fleet have also been ongoing and another upgrade program is in the works, with the aim to keep the planes flying until 2025, according to the RCAF.

That will provide the planes with various systems to allow them to operate with allied air forces as well as meet new rules to fly in domestic and international airspace. There could also be upgrades to weapons, the RCAF says.

It is unclear if yet another upgrade would be needed beyond that to keep the planes flying from 2025 to 2032.

Canada is in also in discussions with Australia to purchase 18 used F-18 aircraft to augment the existing fleet of CF-18s. While the exact cost of that deal won’t be made public until the contract is signed, the Liberal government has set aside $500 million for the project.

In November 2016, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan acknowledged that the CF-18s might have to keep flying longer than planned, suggesting they could even continue until 2030 or perhaps beyond. The briefing to industry representatives was the first official government confirmation that the RCAF would stretch out the life of the aircraft until 2032.

The Liberals have committed to buying 88 new fighter jets in a program that could cost as much as $19 billion. That price-tag does not include long-term maintenance.

Troy Crosby, director general of defence major projects at Public Services and Procurement Canada, said in an interview with Postmedia that a request for proposals from companies for the new fighter jets is expected to be issued in spring 2019. A contract would be signed in late 2021 or early 2022.

André Fillion, chief of staff in the materiel branch at the Department of National Defence, said the Jan. 22 meeting provided a way to brief industry on how the purchase will unfold. “This was an opportunity for us to start talking to industry about the context for the fleet in terms of its operation, sustainment and acquisition,” he explained in an interview with Postmedia. Fillion said attendees were given “a bit of an appreciation of where we are headed so they can start thinking about their solution.”

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Air Force Brat said:

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But I do agree those trade tariffs with our allies are kinda stooped,,, looks like more Obama Nation alienation going on,,,, Trump really ought to lighten up a little and get together with the Canadians and get this figured out!

...

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Jura said:

Dec 18, 2017
anyway
Canada's CF-18s to fly until 2032 as new fighter jets expected to be slowly phased in

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Companies who took part in an industry day outlining government plans were told the jets, dating from 1982, will be retired after 50 years of service

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Canada’s auditor general, Michael Ferguson, is reviewing the country’s fighter jet programs in preparation for a future fighter jet competition in 2019. Ferguson and his team have

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, although it is unclear which programs are under investigation.

Since 2016, Canada has been preparing to procure new fighters to replace 76 F/A-18 Hornets that are quickly approaching the end of their service life.

A legal complaint filed by Boeing with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Canadian aerospace company Bombardier in May effectively

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for the American company to supply its northern neighbors with 18 new fighters in the interim before Canada made its decision on a more significant contract.

Boeing suffered a blow at the hands of the ITC on Friday when

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. The vote blocks a U.S. Department of Commerce ruling that would have imposed a

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, whose largest program customer is Delta Air Lines.

Last week,

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for the future fighter program, further signalling that the door is open for European suppliers to compete for the estimated $14 billion contract.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale and Saab’s Gripen E are possible alternative platforms that could be selected.

In an

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in November, the head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt. Gen. Michael Hood, discussed the country’s plans to replace the service’s aging F/A-18s.

“The plan right now is to have a request for proposal out to industry by 2019. We’re in discussions and have been in discussions with a number of the people who are considering competing for that, and what I’d like to see is that accelerated as much as possible,” he said.

However, Hood's wish for speed is unlikely to be granted. While the hope was to award a contract by 2021 with delivery scheduled by 2025, documents released at last week’s industry day suggest the new delivery target date is set for 2031.

To maintain capability in the interim,

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. These planes, however, are already 30 years old and will need to undergo a service life extension program to keep them in the air.

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Jeff Head said:

Well, Canada's pols and efforts prove out and they win...and in so doing...they lose.

Really, original F-18s until 2032?

The US is now two generations (some might say three) beyond those aircraft. Canada has typically been in a position with the US to be much closer in technology but has clearly decided it does not need it.

I pray they are right...but I would not bet on it given the way the world is these days.

Canada really should ave gotten the F-35s. But the liberals won their elections and elections have consequences so they have decided to soldier on with their 35 year old aircraft.

Oh well, such is life.

In the mean time, the F-35 is moving on wth many nations buying into it...and with very good reasons.

Currently, these nations are already buying and receiving the F-35:
USA
Britain
Australia
Italy
Turkey
Netherlands
Denmark
Norway
South Korea
Japan
Israel

The following countries have been considering the F-35 and there is a good likelihood that several of them will ultimately purchase the aircraft too:

Belgium
Poland
Spain
Romania
UAE
Singapore
Switzerland
Suadi Arabia
Germany
Finland

It will be the modern F-16.

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