[Shadow_Flanker]

For COIN (COunter INsurgency) operations in places like Afghanistan, and Iraq, the need for stealth and their fancy avionics really isn't the way to go. A converntional ground strike aircraft like the AC-130 Spectre, and A-10 would suffice. Other conventional aircraft like the multirole F-15 Strike Eagle/Silent Eagle, and F-16 Fighting Falcon would also fit the bill.

If our airforce's future foreign deployments will focus primarily on counter insurgency then (as mentioned by others above me) aircraft like the AC-130 Spectre, A-10, and multirole F-15 and F-16 is all we need.

[saturn_656]

Quote:

If our airforce's future foreign deployments will focus primarily on counter insurgency then (as mentioned by others above me) aircraft like the AC-130 Spectre, A-10, and multirole F-15 and F-16 is all we need.

The problem is, that one would have to literally be clairvoyant to know what missions will be expected of Air Command in the next 40 years.

I think a relatively low cost COIN aircraft (like the OV-10 Bronco or Super Tucano) would be a great complement to the higher cost F-35.

[Arctic_Menace]

Ideally, I'd like to see Canada acquire the semi-stealthy F-15SE Silent Eagle. They're being built with new airframes and new avionics, etc. making it a new aircraft. I believe some have called it a 4.5 generation fighter.

[saturn_656]

Arctic_Menace wrote:

Ideally, I'd like to see Canada acquire the semi-stealthy F-15SE Silent Eagle. They're being built with new airframes and new avionics, etc. making it a new aircraft. I believe some have called it a 4.5 generation fighter.

For at least $100 million an example? You're getting close to the price tag of the so called "too expensive" F-35A.

[PluggyRug]

EyeBrock wrote:

Plane = carpenters tool. Aircraft, don't call them planes.

Please.

Err not quite 'Brock.

Plane or planing is an object supporting it's own weight driven by a force horizontal to the motion of the object.....as in hydroplane (medium water), aeroplane (medium air).

Aircraft is a more general term which applies to any flying object such as an aeroplane, hot air balloon, Zeppelin type object, Manitoba maple seeds etc.

Sorry 'bout that, anyways the term(s) seem to be lost on Derby.

[CDN_PATRIOT]

Arctic_Menace wrote:

Ideally, I'd like to see Canada acquire the semi-stealthy F-15SE Silent Eagle. They're being built with new airframes and new avionics, etc. making it a new aircraft. I believe some have called it a 4.5 generation fighter.

But....but....

Attachment:

F-18-Super-Hornet1.jpg [ 32.32 KiB | Not viewed yet ]

....these Super Hornets are too damn sexy


-J.

[Shadow_Flanker]

saturn_656 wrote:

Quote:

If our airforce's future foreign deployments will focus primarily on counter insurgency then (as mentioned by others above me) aircraft like the AC-130 Spectre, A-10, and multirole F-15 and F-16 is all we need.

The problem is, that one would have to literally be clairvoyant to know what missions will be expected of Air Command in the next 40 years.

I think a relatively low cost COIN aircraft (like the OV-10 Bronco or Super Tucano) would be a great complement to the higher cost F-35.

Both Bronco and Super Tucano are good aircraft for COIN operations, but they only have a fraction of the firepower the AC-130, and A-10, F-15 and F-16 have.

The primary focus (which I'm sure we here all know this) of our airforce is the defence of Canadian airspace including our terrtorial waters. We need an aircraft to fill both our air defence requirements and foreign deployment role.

The first need (national air defence) is a no-brainer, what type of aircraft would best fill that need for our nation? The second is where things get somewhat tricky: foreign deployment. Just what type of foreign conflicts would we be mostly sending our air force into? A theatre where the adversary has no airforce and no credible air-defence(Afghanistan, Somalia), or a threatre where the airspace will be contested by aircraft and or established air-defence system (Libya, Iran, Serbia)?

And just what role would our airforce play in a foriegn conflict? Support air superiority missions to deny the enemy control of the skies? Strike missions to support NATO ground forces? Provide air support for allied occupation forces against rebels/insurgents in COIN operations after the war has ended?