The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

[Fredk]

From the National Post

"From radars that don’t work, to blurry vision from the aircraft’s sophisticated helmet, to an inability to fly through clouds, the report, which includes pilot comments, paints a picture of a jet nowhere near ready for real-life operations."

Nail, meet coffin.

[bobby Jones]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

But isn't it the best??? Peter McKay et al keep saying it is....

[Bellyhungry]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

Apparently the rival Super Hornet is better and at half the price.

[dekker]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

the reality is that we are doing this for the sake of meeting our NATO obligations more than for our national protection.

[Sergio]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

Apparently the rival Super Hornet is better and at half the price.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/02/27/pol-fighter-jets-boeing-superhornet-f-35-milewski.html?cmp=rss

I still don't know how they truly compare in terms of stealth. So confusing... perhaps we can paint them the colour of the sky?

[Jeffc]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/02/27/pol-fighter-jets-boeing-superhornet-f-35-milewski.html?cmp=rss

I still don't know how they truly compare in terms of stealth. So confusing... perhaps we can paint them the colour of the sky?

It would appear that Canada has wasted 7 years and willing to waste more on a jet that may or may not solve its problems. I don't know enough to comment on this but the super hornet looks like a worthy alternative that we could get today.

[68shark]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

We don't seem to be very adept at military purchases. Remember the cancelled helicopters and the all but useless used British submarines that have been nothing but trouble? Just shows that the Liberals of that era don't hold a monopoly on questionable military purchase decisions.

[x Carl Spackler]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

That's weird because when I'm playing Battlefield 3 and I'm flying around in the F-35 everything works fine, I even got a 12 kill streak once.

[68shark]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

That's weird because when I'm playing Battlefield 3 and I'm flying around in the F-35 everything works fine, I even got a 12 kill streak once.

[dmcdam]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

We don't seem to be very adept at military purchases. Remember the cancelled helicopters and the all but useless used British submarines that have been nothing but trouble? Just shows that the Liberals of that era don't hold an monopoly on questionable military purchase decisions.

I think defense procurements are fraught with problems by all countries, but especially difficult for governments with limited budgets and leverage with suppliers as in the case of Canada. I suspect there was a lot of pressure applied by the US to bring us into the F35 deal to help bring down the development and unit costs for all.

I don't see much reporting about how much the process has already cost us. The CBC mentioned a huge figure that had to be paid just to participate but I can't remember what it was. Either way, pretty sure that money is gone.

[hammy1983]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/02/27/pol-fighter-jets-boeing-superhornet-f-35-milewski.html?cmp=rss

I still don't know how they truly compare in terms of stealth. So confusing... perhaps we can paint them the colour of the sky?

Seems weird the 2 companies are going head to head on this, although Lockheed is the designer of the F-35, Boeing provides a lot of material and support for the f-35. Not sure how we can compare the 2 especially since the f-35 is suppose to be a toned down version of the f-22 which is the most advanced fighter jet ever. Makes you wonder how they screwed up so bad when they are basing the f-35 off of almost a perfect aircraft. I dont think the super hornet is at the level of what the F-35 is projected to be at but we dont have an f-35 do we. The other issue is by the time we get this aircraft the US will most likely already have a prototype 6th gen out and we could see the f-22 available to the US' closest allies.

[hackerhare]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

McKay and Harper should cancel the F35 and for a fraction of the cost, just go nuclear. Canada is rich in uranium and I am sure the boys at Chalk River can refine them to weapons grade.

[Fredk]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

McKay and Harper should cancel the F35 and for a fraction of the cost, just go nuclear nucular. Canada is rich in uranium and I am sure the boys at Chalk River can refine them to weapons grade.

Fixed it for ya. I'd pay to see Harper go nucular.

[Fredk]

Re: The F-35, it just keeps getting worse

Seems weird the 2 companies are going head to head on this, although Lockheed is the designer of the F-35, Boeing provides a lot of material and support for the f-35. Not sure how we can compare the 2 especially since the f-35 is suppose to be a toned down version of the f-22 which is the most advanced fighter jet ever. Makes you wonder how they screwed up so bad when they are basing the f-35 off of almost a perfect aircraft. I dont think the super hornet is at the level of what the F-35 is projected to be at but we don't have an f-35 do we. The other issue is by the time we get this aircraft the US will most likely already have a prototype 6th gen out and we could see the f-22 available to the US' closest allies.

The Eurofighter is the equal ofthe f-22 in a dogfight and the Super Hornet is a very capable more general purpose fighter bomber. Either would be adequate for the types of deployments for which they are typically uses (think Bosnia or Lybia).

Just pick the least cost alternative from proven technologies, put some of that savings towards better support for our troops AFTER the battle and chalk up the rest of the savings to being fiscally responsible.

I think that if the Conservatives were to do the above, they would come out ahead in public opinion