Forget the F-35 - should Canada re-develop the Avro Arrow

[Barrister]

Boats, Boats! Ships! Destroyer! Icebreakers! Nuclear Power!

They're still going to be buying planes.

[Grey Fox]

Of course, but they will be cheaper. What are the alternatives? Mirages?

[Barrister]

Of course, but they will be cheaper. What are the alternatives? Mirages?

Alternatives:

F-22 - though it isn't actually available for sale outside of the US, but maybe we can get them to make an exception.  Plus it isn't currently being manufactured.

F-18 Super Hornet - the modern version of the existing plane.  Nice and affordable, but not stealthy.

Eurofighter - I think the problem is lack of ground attack capability

SAAB Grippen - again not stealthy

Dassault Rafale - not sure about

[Neil]

What's the point?  A single dreadnought battleship would be far more useful for the purposes that Canada wants these planes for.

[CountDeMoney]

Alternatives:

F-22 - though it isn't actually available for sale outside of the US, but maybe we can get them to make an exception.  Plus it isn't currently being manufactured.

F-18 Super Hornet - the modern version of the existing plane.  Nice and affordable, but not stealthy.

Eurofighter - I think the problem is lack of ground attack capability

SAAB Grippen - again not stealthy

Dassault Rafale - not sure about

Really, though;  does Canada need stealth?   That's our gig.

[Barrister]

Alternatives:

F-22 - though it isn't actually available for sale outside of the US, but maybe we can get them to make an exception.  Plus it isn't currently being manufactured.

F-18 Super Hornet - the modern version of the existing plane.  Nice and affordable, but not stealthy.

Eurofighter - I think the problem is lack of ground attack capability

SAAB Grippen - again not stealthy

Dassault Rafale - not sure about

Really, though;  does Canada need stealth?   That's our gig.

And aren't you guys always whining about how other nations can't hold their own weight?

[CountDeMoney]

And aren't you guys always whining about how other nations can't hold their own weight?

Troops on the ground to absorb IEDs are one thing, flying Canuckistanis are another.

You want to help out?  Buy some Hercules and Starlifters and help out with the air train.  Leave the real shit for the pros.

[Grey Fox]

We don't need Stealth planes, we're never going to be in an operation without the US Navy having bombed the opposition air defenses to smitherines.

[CountDeMoney]

Exactly.  Short of jumping back in time to West Germany, Canadian air assets would not be used in the first echelon of any major conflict with a power that would require stealth technology.

[Barrister]

And aren't you guys always whining about how other nations can't hold their own weight?

Troops on the ground to absorb IEDs are one thing, flying Canuckistanis are another.

You want to help out?  Buy some Hercules and Starlifters and help out with the air train.  Leave the real shit for the pros.

Get with the times, Money.  We have had Hercs for decades.

And while in the early aughts we had a dearth of heavy lifting capability, we have subsequently purchased some C-17 Globemasters (which are, you know, the successor to the Starlifter).

You can just go back in this very thread for why stealth would be important.  Even going to war against second or third rate powers means going up against anti-aircraft radar and missiles.

[Valmy]

We don't need Stealth planes, we're never going to be in an operation without the US Navy having bombed the opposition air defenses to smitherines.

When the Great War of Albertan Independence starts you will wish you had them.

[Grey Fox]

You might have the wrong impression on who's side Quebec will take.

[Barrister]

We don't need Stealth planes, we're never going to be in an operation without the US Navy having bombed the opposition air defenses to smitherines.

When the Great War of Albertan Independence starts you will wish you had them.

Why do we need independence?  We now rules this country, both economically and politically.   

[CountDeMoney]

Get with the times, Money.  We have had Hercs for decades.

And while in the early aughts we had a dearth of heavy lifting capability, we have subsequently purchased some C-17 Globemasters (which are, you know, the successor to the Starlifter).

Buy more, then.

You can just go back in this very thread for why stealth would be important.  Even going to war against second or third rate powers means going up against anti-aircraft radar and missiles.

I can appreciate your patriotism, BB, but you're wading into "technology searching for a mission" waters with this argument.
 
There is no compelling need for Canadian air assets to possess stealth technology.  Outside of little shitty countries going at each other, the dogfighting days are over, and any defenses in a theater that Canadian air assets would operate in--by the time they got there, if the government didn't pussy out in participation to begin with--would be substantially degraded by witnessing the firepower of the fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle stations of the United States Navy and Chair Force.

[Valmy]

Why do we need independence?  We now rules this country, both economically and politically.   

To keep all your oil from leeching commies in British Columbia and Ontario of course.