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Defence analysts warn U.S. will control key systems on F-35 fighter jets, putting Canada at risk (ottawacitizen.com)

submitted 2 days ago by NightOwl@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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Supporters of Canada’s F-35 purchase point to the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts that Canadian companies have earned by supplying parts for the U.S. aircraft. That, in turn, has sustained or created Canadian aerospace jobs. But on Feb. 28, the National Post reported that Trump has told Lockheed Martin he wants those jobs back in the U.S. when the Canadian contracts come up for renewal.

During the 2015 election campaign, Justin Trudeau vowed his government would never purchase the F-35.

As prime minister, Trudeau continued to point out the Canadian military had no need for the F-35 and he blamed the Conservatives for agreeing to purchase a problem-plagued fighter jet. But, with the 2023 announcement, the Liberals not only committed to the acquisition, but also increased the number of jets to be bought to 88 from the 65 the Conservatives had wanted.

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[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Get drones and missiles instead. Stockpile them in locations kept secret from the US. Refit our submarines so they're capable of launching missiles again. Keep a few subs in the Caribbean at all times so they can hit their King's winter palace in Florida.

That would be the best deterrent, other than nukes of course... which we'd need missiles for anyway.

[–] JillyB@beehaw.org 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I'm not sure how serious your comment is but anyway...what you're describing is a decades-long reorientation of military doctrine and procurement strategy. Getting a different multi-role fighter is already a huge expense with lots of ramifications but no need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Edit: IMO, if you really wanted to alter air force strategy to deter the US, you should look to Sweden and Finland who have been facing an asymmetric threat for decades. Aquire the Gripen, train with the Swedes in how to run and operate a distributed air force of small independent units capable of generating and performing missions from random roads in the woods.

[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 hour ago

Are you suggesting that CAF fighting against US air power with our own air power has a chance of success?

The only interest the Trump regime has is monetary. Drones and missiles would inflict damage to the US, and if we keep their locations secret we'd have second strike capability. To achieve deterrence we'd only need to have the capability of inflicting enough damage to the US economy to cost the ruling oligarchy enough money to not be worthwhile to them.

The only immediate threat to Canada is the US right now. Europe won't have a fifth gen fighter for quite some time, we'd obviously get cut off from parts for F-35s if there were a conflict with the US. We'll need time recruit more people into the military to operate any plane and time to train them. We can start buying and producing drones in a much shorter time frame, which is critical given the pace Trump is betraying US allies.

[–] martin4598@lemm.ee 1 points 13 hours ago

Canada has a shit load of random roads in the woods, so it makes sense

[–] Litebit@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Get Sea babies from Ukraine too.