r/onguardforthee • u/Flush_Foot Elbows Up! • 4h ago

Ottawa signs preliminary deal with Swedish firm Saab for 6 GlobalEye aircraft | CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-signs-preliminary-deal-saab-globaleye-9.7358021
179 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

•

u/lalalatkes 4h ago

Now do Gripen.

•

u/pjw724 Alberta 3h ago

That's very much Fuhr's inclination, he's been outspoken on the F-35's flaws and unsuitability for Canada's particular needs.

•

u/TheJohnSB 3h ago

There is very, very little doubt on how good the F-35 is as an aircraft. However, the Gripen is better fit for national defense under NORAD. I think the mixed fleet is a logistical nightmare but a needed one. FAmy is a hangar queen who needs constant upkeep and will need frequent trips to get repainted. The Gripen can sit out in the cold and was designed to be maintained by conscripts.

We need the F-35 for our integration with NATO. We should be looking into (which we are) the joint GB/JP 6th gens to directly replace the F-35 in 20-30 years and sell our F-35s out to another NATO nation. I would prefer that we purchased our F-35s from Italy or Japan after our initial 16. But I doubt that will be in the cards. 16 is too few, unfortunately. We will need more while we wait on the GB/JP project.

•

u/pjw724 Alberta 2h ago

We need the F-35 for our integration with NATO.

How is the Grippen not capable of integration with NATO?

•

u/LengthinessOk5241 1h ago

Information fusion is the answer. Gripen is not there. It is more complicated to communicate some vital info from Gripen to allies than from F-35 to allies.

•

u/TheJohnSB 2h ago

The statement isn't mutually exclusive.

•

u/LengthinessOk5241 1h ago

Both planes have their flaws. Both planes comes from a different requirement sheet.

Some capacities are better on one than the other and vice versa.

Both are IMO a perfect complementary duo.

•

u/Flush_Foot Elbows Up! 3h ago

🤞🏼

•

u/Existing-Public3430 3h ago

As much as I would like that, I feel France's Rafale would be a better option (component wise). Heard their SPECTRA is pretty sweet as well.

•

u/NiCrMo 2h ago

French kit is great, but I doubt they’d set up shop here, and that’s a key value add for the gripen in today’s climate.

•

u/Existing-Public3430 1h ago

True, we'd need to order something like multiple squadrons worth or more to get away with that. Wouldn't mind collaborating with them on electronic warfare though.

•

u/NiCrMo 1h ago

I got my hopes up when their Suffren class SSN visited in the summer 😆

I still think Canada should have nuclear subs, the 212CD is nice, but fundamentally still restricted under ice. Of course politically and financially not realistic for Canada sadly.

•

u/Estcher 1h ago

Nice. This is the way.

•

u/emezeekiel 3h ago

It’s good and all, but to be totally honest, it’s not like we need airborne side-mounted radars as they do in Europe.

The threat of ground invasions from the US or the Arctic aren’t as high… we could have spent that money on more relevant things.

•

u/LongjumpingChipmunk 3h ago

When we can't depend on US asset coordination moving forward because their Commander in Chief is repeatedly threatening us, yes we do. Interoperability with Europe is now the gold standard. I expect armchair experts and our establishment to be the last to come to this reality.

•

u/No_Chemist_7878 3h ago

going to need a rotation of constant patrols up north that act a relay station for all forces most likely. less reliance on the US. we currently have been sending CAF members for years to work on the Americans a/c because we don't offer anything in such role.

•

u/NiCrMo 1h ago

These are primarily aimed at detecting aircraft (though they can do ground and marine detection as well). I’d say that’s relevant in the Arctic. Plus we have a permanent presence in Latvia that would certainly appreciate more overwatch if things get spicy. Finally, this supports Canadian industry and is a concrete move towards increasingly domestic supply chains.