Canada's F-35 purchase is a costly mistake

Abstract

The Department of National Defence has determined that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the only jet fighter aircraft that meets its Statement of Operational Requirements (SOR). But the fact that the SOR is not publicly available has stifled debate and precluded a competitive tendering process. In this article, we examine the role currently fulfilled by the CF-18 as well as the possible future missions with which any successor aircraft might be tasked. We also explore the negative impact that stealth technology will have on the performance and mission capable rates of the F-35. We conclude that the F-35 is ill-suited for Canada's needs and recommend a more cautious approach that mixes existing CF-18s with a smaller number of new non-stealth jet fighter aircraft as well as, increasingly, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Keywords:

• Air Power
• Arctic
• Canada
• Cost Overruns
• Defence
• Interoperability
• Procurement
• Security
• Stealth
• UAVs
• F-35
• F-15
• F/A-18

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Byers

Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. From 1996–1999 he was Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University; from 1999–2004 he was Professor of Law and Director of Canadian Studies at Duke University. He has also taught as a visiting professor at the universities of Cape Town and Tel Aviv. He is the author of War Law; Intent for a Nation and Who Owns the Arctic? 1866 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada.

Stewart Webb

Stewart Webb is a Research Associate with the Salt Spring Forum. He holds a bachelor degree in Political Science from Acadia University and a masters degree in Security Studies from Aberystwyth University.