Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #5: The Re-norming of Air Power
One of the biggest leaps Canadian defense has made in generations comes with the selection of F-35 for the Royal Canadian Air Force. What F-35 will force is a revolution across the entire Canadian Armed Forces, not just the RCAF and not just the fighter fleet. The...
The Afterburn Podcast
One of the consistently most fun aviation podcasts is hosted by John ‘Rain’ Waters on the Afterburn Podcast. We talked about airshows since Rain had been the USAF F-16 demo pilot for years, then how F-35 matters in our future and what Interoperability...
Canada’s military colleges – If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance even less.
The recent Arbour report took aim at the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and its inability to reform itself. The report gave a special shout-out to the military colleges, questioning their need moving forward. The crisis of identity that the military and these educational institutions are facing needs to be recognized as a final warning.
Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #6: Cost
What does a fighter jet cost? A lot. How much is a lot? As much as it takes to defend a country and have the capability and capacity to fight and win a war. And as much as it costs to ensure that our men and women come home safely every time they fly. How much is...
Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #7: Rejoining the 21st Century
Canada’s ‘recommitment’ to the F-35 brought military defense of this nation back from the abyss of disinterest, neglect, and atrophy. After such a long period where Canadians did not take defense matters seriously, the signal to continue with the F-35 project was...
F-35: Capabilities, Missions, Kinematics, Role In Ukrainian Crisis And Beyond.
Long, comprehensive discussion focused on Poland and the adopting of F-35 into the Polish Air Force. After a relatively quick incorporation of the F-16 into their fighter force, Poland then committed to the F-35. The learning curve to move from Russian tactics and...
F-35 in Canada…Done Deal…Move On
Does anyone on God’s green earth think that after 20 years of this Canada F-35 saga, spending millions upon millions of dollars and dedicating enormous manpower, establishing all the manufacturing subcontractors for the F-35 Enterprise, Lockheed Martin and the US government won’t do everything in their power to complete the deal for Canada’s next fighter?
This is not F-35’s first rodeo!
F-35 in Canada…Finally…Are You F’ing Kidding Me?
This decision eclipses just buying a new fighter. So many times, over so many years, the Canadian government procurement system has failed the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. All of us veterans know the tales of bad decisions, political interference and substandard kit given to men and women who have to make it work while other countries were smart enough to buy the equipment needed to do their missions. Seldom has Canada bought the right equipment at the right time.
Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #8: Interoperability
The globalization of F-35 brings 5th Gen capabilities and a new level of interoperability not imagined with legacy 4/4.5 Gen platforms. F-35 users share knowledge not just data. The many dimensions of F-35 drives integration into all elements of military services, leveraging what the F-35 is capable. Imagine the shield of deterrence in Europe and Asia from the non-US services matching the USAF/USMC/USN fleets.
Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #9: Range and Persistence
Tyranny of Distance is the term that best describes flying over the barren land of Canada. The range to travel from one place to the next is always significant, the number of runways that are available to military aircraft is limited and there are few options to divert if unable to land at the intended destination. This is a problem set uniquely Canadian. Persistence, meaning how long that aircraft can stay in the air to do its patrol or surveillance mission, is essential to ensuring that the fighter’s sensors and capabilities are being used to guard Canadian territory. F-35 brings both for Canada’s interests in the arctic and abroad.
Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #10: Stealth = Survivability
Why does stealth matter? Having Canadian fighter pilots come home safely each and every mission is why that matters.
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