Canada struggles to decide on new fighter

The Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighters are now nearly 40 years old. 36 of them will be upgraded starting in 2023 with new sensors and weapons (costing nearly 1 billion dollars) to fill the gap until new jets arrive. In 2022 the selection of the 88 new fighters will be confirmed. The choices are: Super Hornet, Saab Gripen and the F-35.
Super Hornet is proven, reliable and would require the least instructor pilot training. Canada has a serious shortage of pilots.
Saab Gripen offers the most benefits and is willing to assemble in Canada. Gripen is made to take off/land from short airstrips in northern bases. Is field serviceable, with quick turn around for more sorties, but is not American.
F-35 is a fifth generation fighter with extremely high maintenance costs.

The fighter that was not available at the closing time of the bidding process was the F-15X/EX, with its far greater intercept range (Canada has no arctic bases for fighters… yet) and payload capacity more than any of the above. This twin engine fighter is a true interceptor and would be ideal for protecting our northern border. US has capped its F-35 purchase at 1,000 from its original order of 1,700 so it can buy at least 144 F-15EX, this should tell us something about the capabilities of the F-15EX and something about the shortcomings of the F-35.

With a decision needing to be made within a year for the 88 fighters, I think the Saab Gripen would offer Canada something we could build on. Who knows, maybe we could even purchase a couple dozen F-15X interceptors for good measure, because 88 fighters are not enough, with the addition of a 16-24 F-15X purchase we would have 112 planes (it would also go a long way in appeasing our southern neighbour for not buying American on our 88 fighter order). These 112 fighters remember, are to replace the 138 F-18’s purchased in the 1980’s (which we now have only 77 left). Using some simple math you can see why we need a second order to purchase the F-15CX (1 seat) interceptor for our NORAD home defense, while using our Gripens more for joint security missions with NATO and the UN.

One last comment on why we should procure the Saab Gripen is its cost of operation is 1/4 that of a F-35. This means our pilots could actually get enough flying time to be proficient in the many different roles they will need. An example comes to mind of how Canada sent our F-18’s to Kosovo without night vision, (no training, no goggles, no dimmer switch for internal cockpit lighting) which was needed half the time. These sorts of oversights are just the beginning… imagine running out of ordinances and have to beg the Americans for what you need for your next mission. Oh, now you have got me started… refueling in air any of our 5 CC-177, or fighter jets hopping over to Europe, Aftrica or the Middle East– nope. All those other parts we need to make it all work… you know, like how are just 2 refueling tankers going to really cover what we need. 12 frigates, yet no real armed coastal patrol vessels or counter mine capability. The list goes on and on. So no, we do not need stealth planes, there are many things we need first. Maybe even a paved northern runway and that promised icebreaker come to mind… remember that “Northern” sovereignty thing.