The future of Canadian airpower and the F-35

Abstract

The Harper Government's announcement in July 2010 that it would be purchasing sixty-five F-35 aircraft unleashed a storm a storm of controversy. Much of it focused on the anticipated cost of purchasing the aircraft. As the aircraft is still in development the final cost is uncertain. However the focus on costs misses the real debate about the need for the aircraft. What needs to be considered is whether in the future Canada needs the airpower that is provided by the F-35s. As a medium power, does Canada need the capability provided by fighter aircraft as it moves into the twenty-first century? Will Canada require the ability to engage in future hostile aerospace environments? Will Canada need to have airpower to defend its borders and to defend future foreign deployments? These are the real questions that need to be asked. Once these questions have been addressed, then the issue of costs may be examined.

Keywords:

• Canadian Airpower
• F-35
• Military Strategy
• Canadian Defence Policy

Notes

Of the many Americans who examine the modern concept of air power, RAND is one of the foremost think tanks examining issues relating to the subject (http://www.rand.org/topics/national-security.html). Within Canada there is now the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre. But among non-military research institutes only the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba has a focus on Canadian air power.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rob Huebert

Rob Huebert is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and the associate director of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary. He was a senior research fellow of the Canadian International Council; a fellow with Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute and in November 2010 was appointed as a commissioner to the Canadian Polar Commission. Department of Political Science, University of Calgary, Calgary Alberta, T2N 1N4.