OTTAWA—The federal government is launching a sweeping new search for the next fighter to safeguard Canadian skies, setting aside a controversial plan to go with the Lockheed Martin F-35.Battered by criticism that its original decision to buy 65 F-35s was done without an open competition, federal officials on Wednesday announced they were going back to square one to find a replacement for the CF-18 Hornets.
The new search will look at the threats facing the country and evaluate the capabilities of all fighters available on the market.
As well Wednesday, officials released a “cradle to grave” estimate for operating a fleet of 65 F-35s, pegging that cost at $45.8 billion over 42 years.
The announcement marks a dramatic turnaround for a Conservative government that has been insisting the F-35 was the “best” and only option for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
But on Wednesday, officials said that while the F-35 Lightning II was still in the running, its purchase was far from a sure thing.
“Let me be clear. No decision has been taken on a replacement for the CF-18,” a senior official told reporters at a briefing.
“While the F-35 is still an option under consideration, we’re working to evaluate all options.
“All options are being considered. All fighter aircraft will be considered.”
Recognizing that the new search could delay the acquisition of new fighters, officials also announced they were doing analysis to update the life expectancy of the CF-18 fleet, bought starting in 1982, and what needs to be done to keep the old jets safely in the air.
Wednesday’s announcement comes more than two years after the government pledged to buy 65 F-35 fighter jets.
But a rising price tag, problems in the F-35’s development and mounting criticism over the process forced the Conservative government to finally abandon the fighter they have been stubbornly defending against mounting criticism.
In a bid to quell criticism, officials will take a page from their successful process in 2011 to issue $33 billion in shipbuilding contracts — a decision that stirred little criticism or controversy.
That process will involve consulting with the potential bidders, a independent third-party review and a high-level steering group within government.
Still, it marks a dramatic climb down for the Tories, who have been outspoken in their defence of the F-35 and sharply critical of opposition MPs who expressed doubts, despite growing evidence the jet’s development was getting bogged down and costs were rising.
It’s also a sharp U-turn from July, 2010, when MacKay, Ambrose and then Industry Minister Tony Clement announced Canada’s plans to buy 65 F-35s.
The announcement was done at elaborately staged news conference in Ottawa, featuring a full-sized mock-up of an F-35 alongside an CF-18 flown in for event.
At the time, MacKay declared the F-35 was the only fighter that fit the needs of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“The F-35’s technological leaps — in terms of sensors, stealth technology, weapons systems, survivability and the integrated nature of its systems — make it a truly fifth generation aircraft,” MacKay said at the time.
“And it is the only fighter to meet the Canadian Forces’ operational and interoperability needs,” he said.
Just weeks later, MacKay flew to the airbase in Bagotville, Que., to announce that 24 of the sophisticated fighters would be based there. Another 24 would be stationed at CFB Cole Lake with the remaining 17 to be used for training at a location to be announced later.
However that decision was knocked off the rails in the spring with the release of an auditor general’s report that raised concerns about the costing and selection process.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Bruce Campion-Smith
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