Originally Posted by
Skroe
Canada is being extremely short sighted buying F/A-18E/Fs instead of the F-35.
The F-35B, launched from an Amphibious Assault ship, just aimed, launched and guided a SM-6 Missile launched from a US destroyer into a target drone.
This represents the realization of the F-35B's potential as a stealthy "flying router / sensor node" within a network centric warfare framework. No other aircraft in the world can do this.
The Rafale, F/A-18 and Gripen are fine aircraft in their own way.... for the 2000s, 2010s and early 2020s. The F-35 is built with the late 2020s, 2030s and 2040s in mind. F-35 technology, including it's engine, is forming the basis of the next generation of Air superiority technology. The F-22 replacement, the B-21 Raider Stealth bomber, and the F/A-18 replacement will all be derived from it.
To put it another way, buying the F/A-18, Gripen or Rafle is buying today's model for tomorrow's environment. Canada will save some money now, but will find itself, ten years from now, needing something more advanced than the F/A-18. In fact, ten years from now is about when the US Navy will begun retiring it's older Super Hornets (at that point, 30 year old airframes) in favor it's "F/A-XX" replacement, whatever that is.
It just seems terribly shortsighted and Canada will end up spending more money in the end. By Contrast the F-35A will almost certainly be re-engined in the mid 2020s, and is built with modularity and upgradability in mind. Over the long term, it is more cost effective. Because what's Canada's solution in the late 2020s when the F/A-18E/F ages out? Buy "F-35D's then? Buy a European aircraft that would be just as old? Buy more hornets?
Fact is, if you want a fifth generation fighter, your only international sale option is the F-35. Nobody else is anywhere close.