Harper government seeking alternatives to troubled F-35 fighter jet: sources

[unhappycamper]

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/11/23/harper-government-seeking-alternatives-to-troubled-f-35-fighter-jet-sources/




Harper government seeking alternatives to troubled F-35 fighter jet: sources
John Ivison | Nov 23, 2012 6:43 PM ET | Last Updated: Nov 23, 2012 7:03 PM ET

OTTAWA – The Conservative government will signal it is serious about buying an alternative to the F-35 fighter jet by asking rival manufacturers about the cost and availability of their planes, according to defence industry sources.

The formal request for information will be issued to rivals like Boeing, which produces the Superhornet, and the consortium that makes the Eurofighter Typhoon, asking them what jets are available, and at what cost, if the Canadian government decides to ditch the trouble-plagued F-35 purchase.

The pricing and availability information request falls short of a formal tender but government sources said the “market analysis” will send a signal to voters and industry that it is taking seriously the Auditor-General’s spring report that was heavily critical of the F-35 procurement process.

Rona Ambrose, the Public Works Minister, is now responsible for the F-35 purchase. She has signaled in the House of Commons in recent days that the government is not simply seeking to justify its previous decision to buy the F-35.

[Kolesar]

1. Five more articles that are critical of our white elephant are at the National Post url:

[font size =1]Opposition accuses Tories of ‘whitewashing’ problems after F-35 study lets DND off with slap on wrist
Peter MacKay avoids answering when asked if government is looking at alternatives to F-35
Months after scathing auditor-general report, air force has still not been directed to look at any fighter other than F-35
‘Significant’ costs left out of $25-billion estimate for F-35 purchase, Auditor-General says
John Ivison: Government plans to re-evaluate F-35 program when harsh A-G report drops
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Today's article notes that super*expensive "stealth technology" may yet become obsolete in a few years.

Some industry experts have suggested that technological advances may make stealth obsolete within a relatively short space of time. If the government has accepted that thinking, it may decide to open up any competition to aircraft without stealth capability.

It would be cheaper to buy more F-18 jets.

[xchrom]

2. du rec. nt