Saab is bidding for Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) and today announced that leading Canadian aerospace companies IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation are the ‘Gripen for Canada Team’.
Saab is offering Gripen E, with the support of the Swedish government, for Canada’s future fighter requirement of 88 new aircraft to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s existing CF-18 Hornet fighter fleet. The Canadian Request for Proposal requires companies to deliver high-quality industrial and technological benefits, such as Saab has demonstrated with Gripen for Brazil and is offering for Finland and India’s fighter requirements.
Saab’s bid to the Government of Canada will include a comprehensive proposal to deliver those benefits, with high quality jobs and technology, adding greater economic value and knowledge across Canadian industry coast to coast. Today’s announcement is the first step toward achieving this offer with IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation as the ‘Gripen for Canada Team’.
“Over the past two years, Saab and the Swedish Government have been encouraged by Canada’s open and transparent competition to replace its fighter fleet. Today, we are delighted to announce the ‘Gripen for Canada Team’. We have assembled a dynamic roster of innovative leaders within Canada’s aerospace industry, across multiple regions to offer the best solution for Canada’s future fighter,” said Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and head of Business Area Aeronautics. He further stated that, “Saab is committed to securing long-term relationships in Canada that will create a significant number of highly-skilled, sustainable jobs for Canadians within domestic and international supply chains.”
IMP Aerospace & Defence will contribute with in-country production and in-service support for the life of the Canadian Gripen fleet. CAE will provide training and mission systems solutions, while Peraton Canada will provide avionic and test equipment component maintenance, repair and overhaul, and material management. GE Aviation will provide and sustain the fighter’s engines in Canada.
The ‘Gripen for Canada Team’ presents a genuine ‘Made in Canada’ solution and looks forward to demonstrating how Gripen is the best value for Canada’s aerospace industry and taxpayers in terms of life-cycle costs and sustainment throughout the FFCP competition. Saab’s Gripen fighter meets all of Canada’s specific defence requirements, offering exceptional performance, advanced technical capabilities, future-proof upgradeability and NATO interoperability.
Not 100% certain what the RCAF is looking for in the CF-18 replacement, but the Gripen is really cheap to operate in comparison to the F-35. Cheaper than the F-18 too.
It’s Canada.. I think they might re-energize the F4 Phantom program.
“Excellent value with a proven track record, its a big win for Canadians”
The RCAF needs a frame compatible with our NATO and NORAD partners. That is either the Super Hornet F-18 or F-35. Enough said!
Is the Super Hornet even tasked with NORAD missions? I’d guess F-16, F-15 and F-35A. As for NATO, Hungary and Czech Republic are already Gripen operators so interoperability is already happening. Gripen E is designed specifically to integrate with NATO systems.
That short-legged fighter will work perfect in a small country like Canada…
The E model Gripen is redesigned to carry 30% more internal fuel than Gripen C. With just a single F414 engine to feed and less weight than something like an F/A-18E, Gripen E is rated for an 800nm CAP mission combat radius with 30min on station. It is also supposed to supercruise at Mach 1.1 with an AA loadout. If you run the numbers, Gripen E is no slouch when it comes to geographic reach.
While I wouldn’t touch the F-35 with a ten foot pole (that thing will be hacked and a Mach 2 lawn dart), I also wouldn’t want a single engine fighter for Canada: it’s too big and too cold to play around with single engine like you can in a tiny little land like Sweden. I heard Trudeau is actually pushing for a solar and wind-powered, zero-emission papier-mâché airplane that is both cheap and recycleable….
Overall, I like the Gripen. With that said, Canada needs a twin engine, long range fighter that can patrol their large landmass, reach well into the Arctic Circle and intercept Russian bombers.
I suggest Canada buy the latest version FA-18 because they already have qualified/experienced aircrew and maintainers on the Hornet. Also, they can take a cue from Australia and acquire EA-18G Growlers for electronic attack missions to complement the FA-18E/F.
Basically, I want a strong and well equipped Canadian military to help protect America’s northern front.
Well, the E/F airframes and systems are basically completely different aircraft from the C/D. The Navy basically pulled a fast one on Congress by calling the E/F “Super Hornet” and pitching the funding as basically for an upgrade vs a completely new aircraft because the hurdle for upgrades is lower than the hurdle for new programs. Aside from some superficial external similarities, training C/D maintainers for the E/F at the level of detail required for actually working on the aircraft will be closer to training for any other new aircraft vs just refreshing a few things here and there.
Maybe a good time for the AVRO Arrow, eh?
TSR-2 has my vote.
On a serious note: though interesting, to me this doesnt apply as soldier centric news. But I’m not the admin ofcourse.