Canada reopens tender for new fighter aircraft

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Canada
 
 
Canada reopens tender for new fighter aircraft
 
Canada has reopened the tender for a new fighter aircraft with a letter to the Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. The country’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, had decided to scrap the Lockheed Martin F-35 acquisition programme by withdrawing the country from the project, mainly due to the high costs, delays and lack of match between the characteristics of the platform and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s needs.
     
Canada reopens tender for new fighter aircraf 640 001Canada reopened tender to replace its ageing CF-18 fighter aircraft
     
In the mandate letter sent to Harjit Sajjan, the prime minister said that a new transparent competition would be launched to replace the Boeing CF-18 fighter, “focusing on options that match Canada’s defence needs.” Regarding the country’s needs, Justin Trudeau made clear that these are “North America’s defence”. He also stated that the would reassure that Canadian defence industries would undertake a significant part in the production of the new fighter.


The new procurement project, named Future Fighter Capability, will be overviewed by the recently created Public Services and Procurement ministry. Paula Folkes – Dallaire, a senior public official from the Fisheries Department, will be heading the new project.

In the same letter, Justin Trudeau had stated once again his intention to withdraw the Canadian forces from the operations in Syria and Iraq. However, as he made clear from the G20 summit in Turkey, this would be done in a responsible way. Instead, the country would focus on training local military forces and providing humanitarian assistance.
 

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