The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)

[Cloud Cover]

It’s all just speculation.

I don’t hear the RCAF speculating and they seem quite comfortable with the aircraft and its systems.
And they would never say one way or the other if there are vulnerabilities or other mission impacting vectors.

 

[Swampbuggy]

One question from a not so smart guy.

Does the F 35 have a kill switch so the Americans can hit the switch and ours won't fly?

The stoopid people on a group in FB seem to think they are brilliant strategists and totally believe a lot of stoopid stuff.

This is exactly the reason I recently put FB to the curb. It’s gonna help my mental state, but play hell with my ability to extend timely birthday wishes…

 

[CBH99]

This is exactly the reason I recently put FB to the curb. It’s gonna help my mental state, but play hell with my ability to extend timely birthday wishes…

About 10 years ago, I got rid of FB.

It was supposed to just be for a few weeks, but ended up permanent.

Probably the best thing I have ever done for my mental health

 

[Czech_pivo]

About 10 years ago, I got rid of FB.

It was supposed to just be for a few weeks, but ended up permanent.

Probably the best thing I have ever done for my mental health

Now you have us, lol.

 

[CBH99]

Now you have us, lol.

Believe me, it's a huge upgrade. Wouldn't change the Army.ca crew for the world

...

In other news

Jet maker Bombardier warns Canada that F-35 review may backfire

The head of Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier Inc. raised concerns about Canada’s decision to review a contract to buy dozens of F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp., the country’s latest response to the trade war with the U.S.

www.bnnbloomberg.ca

 

[Swampbuggy]

Now you have us, lol.

One big “mostly” happy family!!

 

[Czech_pivo]

I can’t read the whole article but only the first 2 paras

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-17/jet-maker-bombardier-warns-canada-that-f-35-review-may-backfire?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy

 

[CBH99]

I'm torn on this issue...

On the one hand, I'm heavily leaning towards we should just leave the contract be.

It's signed. We've analyzed our options more than anyone except maybe the Indians (LOL!) and we all know the F-35 makes the most sense in terms of future growth, plugging into tier-1 warfighting systems, benefits to the Canadian economy, and access to future advanced programs.

Plus the price has come down so much that it's probably even more affordable than planes that can't do half of what it can do.

(Remember when F4 Phantom's were the most expensive aircraft on deck at $4M a copy?)



But on the other hand...

The Rafale is so, so sexy. It is.

The Euro jets are Gen 4++ or Gen 4.5, some of them pack their own little surprize capabilities, and might be more in our price range now that our dollar has dropped 41% of value in the last 10 years...

(And the Euro jets ARE expensive. Probably cost more than the F-35. And they are not 5th Gen. And the Canadian industrial benefits would have to be renegotiated all over again. And just...etc etc)



So now that I've thought out loud about it, reviewing the F-35 contract should be fine. Canceling it would be a disaster.

...


The LPC seems intent on pissing everyone off, especially Canadian citizens & Donald Trump...

I wouldn't rule out them canceling the contract just to spite Trump, and to show him who's boss just like we told him when we canceled the Super Hornets!

It seems asinine to most of us, especially given how many decades it took to finally get us here...

But we've never had a federal government deliberately work against the nation itself before, sooooo...



Time will tell.

 

[Maxman1]

I'm torn on this issue...

On the one hand, I'm heavily leaning towards we should just leave the contract be.

It's signed. We've analyzed our options more than anyone except maybe the Indians (LOL!) and we all know the F-35 makes the most sense in terms of future growth, plugging into tier-1 warfighting systems, benefits to the Canadian economy, and access to future advanced programs.

Plus the price has come down so much that it's probably even more affordable than planes that can't do half of what it can do.

(Remember when F4 Phantom's were the most expensive aircraft on deck at $4M a copy?)



But on the other hand...

The Rafale is so, so sexy. It is.

The Euro jets are Gen 4++ or Gen 4.5, some of them pack their own little surprize capabilities, and might be more in our price range now that our dollar has dropped 41% of value in the last 10 years...

(And the Euro jets ARE expensive. Probably cost more than the F-35. And they are not 5th Gen. And the Canadian industrial benefits would have to be renegotiated all over again. And just...etc etc)



So now that I've thought out loud about it, reviewing the F-35 contract should be fine. Canceling it would be a disaster.

...


The LPC seems intent on pissing everyone off, especially Canadian citizens & Donald Trump...

I wouldn't rule out them canceling the contract just to spite Trump, and to show him who's boss just like we told him when we canceled the Super Hornets!

It seems asinine to most of us, especially given how many decades it took to finally get us here...

But we've never had a federal government deliberately work against the nation itself before, sooooo...



Time will tell.

 

[OldSolduer]

Stay the course. Buy the F 35.

But as has been said before look elsewhere for the next generation fighter.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Explain why a fair number of Euro air forces have 2 or even 3 types of ‘fighter’ aircraft in use and we are talking and talking about the downsides of have say F35’s and Gripens or Rafael both active?
Italy current has the Tornado, the Eurofighter and the F35 all in current use.
It’s a G7 nation and has a similar population as us. Zero reason why we can’t be similar.

 

[CBH99]

.

 

[Maxman1]

Explain why a fair number of Euro air forces have 2 or even 3 types of ‘fighter’ aircraft in use and we are talking and talking about the downsides of have say F35’s and Gripens or Rafael both active?
Italy current has the Tornado, the Eurofighter and the F35 all in current use.
It’s a G7 nation and has a similar population as us. Zero reason why we can’t be similar.

I was referring specifically to the idea of canceling the entire contract.

If a dual fleet would benefit us, it should be explored.

 

[JLB50]

I suspect the majority of Canadians in their present state of anger would be quite satisfied with just a partial order of F-35s, with the remainder being European fighters.

 

[KevinB]

I suspect the majority of Canadians in their present state of anger would be quite satisfied with just a partial order of F-35s, with the remainder being European fighters.

I suspect the majority of Canadians would love to see the F-35 order cancelled and the monies redirected to reducing the debt.

 

[Quirky]

I suspect the majority of Canadians would love to see the F-35 order cancelled and the monies redirected to increasing funding for social programs

Don’t think they care about national debt.

 

[KevinB]

Good read on the F-35 The F-35 as a Subscription Service: Power, Dependency, and Strategic Control… DaaS, Defense as a Service.

 

[Genetk44]

Good read on the F-35 The F-35 as a Subscription Service: Power, Dependency, and Strategic Control… DaaS, Defense as a Service.

Stick with our original commitment of 65 or whatever it is and spend the next 10-20 years actively pursuing an alternative that lets us maintain our autonomy.

 

[KevinB]

Stick with our original commitment of 65 or whatever it is and spend the next 10-20 years actively pursuing an alternative that lets us maintain our autonomy.

65 isn’t enough. 10-20 years is way too long for a supplement let alone a replacement.

72 operational F-35 and 48 operational F-15EX (or Rafale etc) would be a decent sized fleet for Canada (plus training and spares of each).

Admittedly the largest fighter fleet in NATO is the F-16, with the F-35 being set to be number 2 then eventually supplant the F-16 as #1

Even if the US decided to take a hard turn, the resources of NATO could likely come to a work around to make the F-35 work as planned, as there is really no other choice.

 

[Genetk44]

65 isn’t enough. 10-20 years is way too long for a supplement let alone a replacement.

72 operational F-35 and 48 operational F-15EX (or Rafale etc) would be a decent sized fleet for Canada (plus training and spares of each).

Admittedly the largest fighter fleet in NATO is the F-16, with the F-35 being set to be number 2 then eventually supplant the F-16 as #1

Even if the US decided to take a hard turn, the resources of NATO could likely come to a work around to make the F-35 work as planned, as there is really no other choice.

I mentioned 65 because somewhere up thread we were told that was the actual commitment and the 88 number is a possible increase. 10-20 years is what I assume it would take us, Canada being Canada, to actually develop our own manufacturing capabilities….if we can do it faster that would be awesome. I always thought the F15EX would be a great fit for us….but I want as much autonomy as possible.