Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked for a review of Canada’s plan to purchase a fleet of F-35 fighter jets.
The deal with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government is for 88 planes at a cost of about US$85 million each.
A spokesperson for Defence Minister Bill Blair said Carney has asked Blair to look into whether the F-35 contract is the best investment for Canada, or if there are better options.
“We need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces,” Blair’s press secretary Laurent de Casanove said.
There was the “kill switch” rumour recently that trump (any president) can remotely disable any/all f35s they wanted to
It’s probably not true, but the truth is just as disasterous for foreign buyers.
A shutdown of parts out of US does essentially the same and is much easier to do on a whim and withhold the solution in negotiations.
People weren’t just buying US because “we’re the best” it’s because we could be relied on for support, because no one fucksnwith the US military industrial complex
trump is tho, and that’s a hell of a lot more dangerous for a politician than pissing off day traders
They require maintenance in the US. How well would that work if the US was invading us?
…
Yes, that is the point I am making, and the argument your government is making for canceling the contract.
If trump were to cut off logistical support for that or any other whim, they would have to be mothballed.
The SAAB would be much better as they allow local parts manufacture and local maintenance.
They don’t give any access to the stealth tech either, as far as I understand
I doubt that’s true, no one would place orders for a stealth fighter without the stealth technology.
No you get stealth, but you don’t get to know ‘how stelt’