Recent content by oldcpu

On the topic of the F-35, while some countries, due to the rising cost of the aircraft, are considering to reduce the quantity of their aircraft (ie Canada and Switzerland), ... other countries are increasing their procurement quantity (despite the price increase) indicating the F-35 is a sought...

While selecting a TKMS Type-212CD submarine likely has MANY more benefits under the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program (of which Canada is a very recent member), even selecting the KSS-III-Batch-2 submarine might allow Canada to take advantage of its recent entry into the SAFE...

Some speculation by me. ... Canada’s formal participation in the EU's Security Action For Europe (SAFE) program, effective as of February 14, 2026, has opened a new opportunity for Canadian defense industry involvement. Under the SAFE program, EU-backed low-interest loans are available to...

Some speculation here ... Canada’s formal participation in the EU's Security Action For Europe (SAFE) program, effective as of February 14, 2026, has opened a new opportunity for Canadian defense industry involvement. Under the SAFE program, EU-backed low-interest loans are available to support...

Something else that may be relevant to the TKMS effort to be selected with their Type-212CD. Canada officially joined the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) on February 14, 2026. This agreement allows Canadian-made parts to count as "domestic" EU content (Article 4), unlocking access to...

There has been an indirect development that may affect the Canadian fighter aircraft procurement - which MAY be significant (or may not) , which frankly, I struggle a lot to understand. Here is my understanding, and I may have this wrong. As of 14 February 2026, Canada has officially signed an...

The gun depiction in that artwork image does not look radically different from the guns in any other images of the River Class. With respect, it does not appear to me to illustrate the Mk 54 any more than the Leonardo gun. Further, I have yet to read anything contrary to this April-2021...

Doing a replenishment at sea, the approach is very tricky, as dependant on the positions of the two ships, the water streaming in between the two ships can either suck them together or push them appart. In this case the approach for replenishment was not adequate enough and I suspect the...

Further to this, various news sources have reported that the RCAF has proceeded to sign a contract involving 14-more F-35s although it is not clear to me if this was only for long lead items for 14-more F-35s or for the complete procurement of 14-more F-35s. if one assumes it is for the...

There is a rather long article here entitled "Why the Saab Gripen NG is right for Canada". Also, The WarZone now has an article (dated 4-Feb-2026) on the Gripen Further to those articles, ... like Canada, Switzerland is currently struggling with significant cost overruns on the F-35. I note...

Where as noted, the decision as to what submarine is to be selected comes down to cost, timeline, and Canadian economic benefits, i often still stumble across technical aspects I missed in the past. I recently noted a 25-Sep-2023 !!! article in Naval News where it states: This had me...

According to a 2-February-2026 CTV news article Hanwha Ocean and its German rival, TKMS, are required to submit their final bids by March 2, 2026. Also in that article Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement said the federal decision would ultimately “come down to...

one word: "cost". It is 'cost' that is causing the consideration to reduce the F-35 purchase to 16-aircraft. The Typhoon is more expensive by far than the Gripen. Note this is only under consideration. It is not approved. Maybe with the Canadian plan to increase the defence budget to 2% of...

I suspect current politics of the current US administration in terms of tariffs on Canada will make it increasingly difficult for Canada to proceed down the F-35 route for all 88-fighter aircraft. While the tariffs are not on the F-35 procurement, the surrounding US tariffs on other aspects of...

This thread has been quiet for a while, and the Halifax class frigates have gone through an update. I confess I was a bit curious about the Rheinmetall MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) implementation on the Halifax Class frigate. I believe the MASS (generically) dependent on procurement...