Question Period Note: FIGHTER JETS

• Why does the Government refuse to accelerate the competition for a new fighter jet to ensure Canada has a modern fighter fleet that is fully operational by 2025?

• A modern fighter aircraft is critical to protecting North American airspace and meeting defence and security challenges abroad.
• This is why we launched an open and transparent competition to acquire 88 new advanced aircraft.
• Suppliers are preparing bids and will submit them in March 2020.
• We have a rigorous process in place to select the best proposal.
• In the interim, we purchased 18 fighter aircraft from Australia to be able to simultaneously meet our current NORAD and NATO commitments.
• We will continue to ensure the Royal Canadian Air Force has the capability to protect Canadian airspace and help defend our Allies.

BACKGROUND

Future Fighter Capability Project

• On December 12, 2017, the Government of Canada launched an open and transparent competition for the permanent replacement of Canada’s fighter fleet.

• The Government of Canada identified five eligible supplier teams consisting of a government and a fighter aircraft manufacturer to submit proposals in the competition for the advanced fighter aircraft: France - Dassault, United States - Lockheed Martin, United States - Boeing, Sweden - SAAB, and United Kingdom and Northern Ireland - Airbus. Dassault and Airbus have officially withdrawn from the competition, citing difficulties in meeting requirements to integrate equipment with the Canadian and American militaries, and to provide industrial and technology benefits to Canadian industry.

• Eligible suppliers have until March 30th 2020 to submit their proposals. Canada will evaluate the proposals based on technical capability, cost, risk and the economic impact on Canadian industry.

Interim Fighter Capability Project

• To maintain Canada’s fighter jet capability, the Government also announced its decision to pursue the acquisition of 18 Australian F-18 Hornets to supplement Canada’s current fleet of fighter aircraft.

• Canada received the first two Australian aircraft in February 2019. Canada received a third aircraft 17 Nov 2019. Canada will receive the remaining 15 aircraft at regular intervals with the final delivery expected by December 2021.

• In order to help sustain our existing CF-18s and these additional aircraft until the future fighter fleet is fully operational, this purchase includes the option to acquire up to seven additional airframes for spare parts and equipment.

RECENT PARLIAMENTARY INTEREST

• On February 28, 2019, the Parliamentary Budget Officer published a costing report of the acquisition of the 18 Australian fighter aircraft. It stated that it would cost $750 million to operate and sustain. Accounting for a difference in methodology, the figure is largely consistent with National Defence’s estimate.

• On October 11, 2019, MP James Bezan (CPC) appeared on the Canadian Global Affairs Institute podcast. He spoke about the procurement of advanced fighter aircraft, stating that the Government should accelerate the competition.

RECENT MEDIA INTEREST

• In summer 2019, the media covered the withdrawal of Airbus and Dassault from the competition.

GBA+

• Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy on Defence Procurement now requires submission of Gender and Diversity Plans as part of the value proposition submission for projects of this scale.

INDIGENOUS

• Nil

Responsible Principals: Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel), Royal Canadian Air Force

QUICK FACTS

• Current CF-18 fighter aircraft: 79 (includes 3 purchased from Australia).

• Interim Australian fighter aircraft received to date: 3 of the 18.

• First delivery of the new advanced fighter aircraft is expected in 2025.

• Suppliers teams in the competition for Canada’s future advanced fighter: United States - Boeing, United States - Lockheed Martin, and Sweden - Saab.