Ottawa’s fighter jet dilemma might be exactly what ailing Bombardier needs

NATIONAL POST ^ | February 12, 2016 | John Ivison

[sukhoi-30mki]

OTTAWA — There are few problems so bad that the intrusion of government can’t make it worse.

But the pickle the Liberals have inherited on the CF-18 fighter jet replacement program and Bombardier’s bailout might both benefit from some creative thinking from Ottawa.

Is it possible that the government could maximize its stone-to-bird ratio and use one dilemma to help solve the other?

I was engaged in idle speculation with a defence analyst last week about the CF-18 replacements.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has said that a new statement of requirement for the jets will be released — one that is likely to effectively block any chance of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 being chosen, in line with the Liberal Party’s campaign commitment.

We discussed the options available. In the analyst’s opinion, it came down to Boeing’s Super Hornet, Saab’s Gripen and Dassault’s Rafale, with the last two being better placed to last into mid-century.

He acknowledged the problems of inter-operability with the U.S., if the Canadian military picked a European jet. The advantage, he said, was that both European manufacturers could “Canadianize” their planes by making them here.

The conversation suddenly became less idle. “You mean the entire plane could be made in Canada?” I asked.

“In theory,” he said. “In fact, Saab has signed a deal to make the Gripen in Brazil, through Embraer.”

That’s Embraer, Bombardier’s rival in the regional jet market. That’s Bombardier, currently engaged in a life or death battle for survival. Bombardier, where “money goes to die,” to quote Kevin O’Leary.

[sukhoi-30mki]

AFP PHOTO / ECPAD

A Rafale fighter taking off from a base for a raid against ISIL on Feb. 1, 2016.

[2ndDivisionVet]

World wide climate clearance? Does that mean what I think it means?

[Jonty30]

Hopefully this will.have more success than trying replace the sea kings.

[Yo-Yo]

From the article:

It's all speculation at this point. But Dassault has also offered to transfer technology and jobs, if Canada buys its Rafale fighter. India has announced plans to buy the Rafale and most of those jets will be built on the subcontinent.

Or not. The Indian Rafale deal is on life support.

Also, the article speaks to wishing to save white collar engineering jobs at Bombardier. Purchasing the licensing rights to manufacture either the Rafale or the Gripen may save some manufacturing jobs, but the engineering has already been done, so the engineers are still redundant.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Maybe not, since both Saab and Dassault do have other under-development projects (new maritime patrol/commercial jets etc.) that could use Bombardier’s engineers.

[Former Proud Canadian]

I don not allow the new Prime Minister's name to be uttered in my house, but nixing the F-35 is a positive step.

I don't know why the Super Hornet is being counted out. Boeing could throw a lot of other work Bombardier's way.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Well Boeing is a much bigger company than Dassault and Saab. It already has substantial operations in Canada. I’d assume Bombardier can strike a “better” work-share arrangement with the smaller European companies.