$30,000,000,000 Question: Canada’s F-35 Debate Seems Paralyzed (www.19fortyfive.com)

submitted 1 day ago by Scotty@scribe.disroot.org to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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While 16 F-35 fighters remain contractually committed for delivery starting this year, the full 88-jet procurement is stalled amidst trade friction with the Trump administration.
Rising program costs—now estimated at $30 billion—have reopened the door for Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen E.
The Gripen offers superior industrial benefits, including 12,600 domestic jobs and Arctic-optimized maintenance.
Ottawa must now balance the F-35’s unmatched NORAD interoperability against the Gripen’s economic sovereignty as the aging CF-18 Hornet fleet reaches its structur

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[-] yogthos@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 day ago

As we're seeing in Iran, you don't actually need jets to take on F-35s at all. You just need a lot of missiles and targeting systems that home on the giant heat signature.

[-] matlag@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago

This! Swarms of FPV drones is what Russia and Ukraine use. Even at 10% target hit because of defense systems, you can inflict considerable damages.

[-] yogthos@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago

Yeah, it looks like the whole 20th century military doctrine is obsolete now. Investing in expensive toys like jets makes little sense especially if the goal is self defense.