Countries buy weapons to kick ass and avoid getting one's own kicked by others. In this context, Canada's CF-18 Hornets are excellent defence tools, except for their age and the fact they're no longer in production. (Commenter pointed out this last assertion is inaccurate. Apologies)
I am no defence expert: my aviation knowledge stretches barely beyond the ideal economy class seats on a few Airbus or Boeing models. Reading around, I could determine that we could replace the CF-18s with Boeing's F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets right away. At least, those can carry a similar load to the CF-18, to approximately the same distance in combat.
Let's pause for a second. Our neighbours are the US, Denmark, France and Russia, and the chances of a military confrontation with all but one are nil. The F-35 will, one assumes, be used up north to intercept pesky Russian Sukhoi Su-35s or PAKs that stray a tad too much into Canadian airspace.
With the current hot seller, the Su-35, we are fairly safe as it can't be stealthy enough. Sure, it can carry 12 "Adder" missiles and some more, but that load would make it conspicuous enough on radars to render it useless.
The new Sukhoi PAK, instead, will be able to carry eight vicious "Adders" in its internal bays alone. By comparison, the most optimistic designs for the F-35 allow for only six comparably effective rockets to be carried without trading away stealth. Chances are it's going to have only four.
We are therefore outgunned - but not outmanoeuvred - in air-to-air combat and too far from Russian mainland for a stealth mission anyway. The F-35s are a formidable defensive machine, and their purchase should be accompanied soon by investment into Arctic air bases to increase the F-35's coverage. Consistent with a policy of reclaiming the Arctic, radar stations and missile defences are probably a good idea as well.
The Liberal, the peacenik and the cost-sensitive libertarian would now argue the entire project's a boondoggle and miss an important nuance. The F-35 is the best money will be able to buy in a few years' time. Among US developments, it's the best bang for one's buck and second only to the F-22 Raptor, which is not for export. The project doesn't involve going shopping in Europe: a course of action that would bring zero benefits to Canadian companies as opposed to the current F-35 contracts.
Never forget, lastly, the Russian factor. The country may not be insane enough to risk being hit by the US nuclear umbrella, but it is an inherently childish superpower. Our purchase of older models such as the Super Hornets - or a pull-out from a major development - would be perceived as weakness in Moscow, with a consequent hardening of the Kremlin's Arctic stance for demagogic gain.
We can't afford to look weak to our biggest neighbour and we can't afford upsetting our closest. In the end, joint contracts like these are the safest way of maintaining a solid argument against US protectionists across the party spectrum. Call this the silver lining if you wish.
While we're at it, we should get Bombardier and the aerospace lot into the Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle development. It will be the next "cool" fighter when it goes on sale.
Ignatieff seems completely oblivious to the ramifications of his misguided policies. His Russian blood isn't warning him of how weak Canada would look if it threw in the towel; his American and British experiences don't seem to suggest him that our partners would feel cheated; his Canadian blood won't stop him from throwing Canadian workers and industry under the bus.
Is the guy for real?
