AFP: Canada rivals spar over F-35 purchase ahead of election
Ottawa (AFP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper shot down Monday a political rival's campaign pledge to scrap a multibillion-dollar purchase of F-35 fighter jets, saying it would "crater" Canada's aerospace sector.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau had said he would take the Lockheed Martin's F-35 out of the running to replace the nation's aging fleet of fighter jets.
Trudeau says that helping develop the aircraft, the apparent frontrunner in the bidding process, does not oblige Canada to buy the jets for its air force, calling the purchase and lifetime maintenance of 65 F-35 jets for Can$44.8 billion (USD$33.8 billion) a boondoggle.
That would leave three -- the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale and Boeing's Super Hornet -- as candidates in the largest military procurement in Canadian history, which has come under fire for spiraling costs and lack of transparency.
WNU Editor: Election rhetoric aside, there are problems with Canada's F-35 purchase .... namely that with the decline of the Canadian dollar, the jet is no longer affordable .... The F-35 is now unaffordable for Canada thanks to the low Canadian dollar (National Post). More at the following link .... Canada could pull out of F-35 deal without financial penalty: procurement expert (Ottawa Citizen). As to what jet the Canadian air force should have .... I have long been a proponent of the Super Hornet. It has two engines so that in the event that one shuts down over the Arctic, it would not be a big deal. And (2) .... Canadian crews are familiar with the plane since they have been maintaining Canada's existing F-18 fleet for years.
More News On Canada's Purchase Of The F-35 Now Being In Doubt
Justin Trudeau vows to scrap F-35 fighter jet program -- F-35
Canada Liberal leader Trudeau says would scrap F-35 program -- Reuters
Justin Trudeau vows to ditch F-35 in favour of ‘more affordable’ fighter jets and a ‘leaner’ military -- National Post
Canada's Liberals Against F-35 Purchase -- Defense News/AFP
Justin Trudeau defends plan to scrap procurement of F-35 fighter jets -- Toronto Sun/Canadian press
Liberals 'living in a dream world' on F-35 cancellation, Stephen Harper says -- CBC
Harper slams Trudeau over plans to kill F-35 purchase -- Toronto Sun/Canadian Press
Scrapping F-35 purchase will ‘crater’ aerospace sector, Stephen Harper says -- Ottawa Citizen
Canada opposition NDP says would keep F-35 in race for new jets -- Reuters
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