The other, less talked about advantage to reclaiming our defense spending domestically is the jobs creation it can bring.
Certainly, automation will be a major part of any new manufacturing upscaling. But there will still be a human component as part of it, both in engineering the designs, and in shop floor hands-on roles, like on-site IT, troubleshooting production, key points assembly, etc.
We have a critical skills base of people from the auto sector that can be re-tasked, and the most educated workforce in the world. We have the people, the smarts, and the vision.
Plus if we build them, we fix them on our own timeline and not the US timeline. We paid for 18 F 35 a number of years ago and we haven't received one yet. Apparently the first one is rolling off the production line for us in August. We have a few pilots down training on it. But they can only be repaired in the statesand only land and be stored in extra large hangers so we run into more problems.
Plus I also need to add F-35's are reported to be not good in good weather such as in our Arctic! Duh!!
The Swedish Gripen designed in cold weather Sweden knows what it's like to fly without stalling because the fuel line froze in Alaska. No I don't know what part of Alaska, but the majority of Alaska is not as far north as the Arctic Circle which these planes need to be in to maintain our sovereignty over the northwest passage.
We would be working with the Nordic countries to help maintain that passage
It makes a lot of sense to me to take what we ordered from the US even if it takes 18 years to get them here 2 1/2 days to repair them apparently but they'll do well for along the coastline and across the southern part of Canada.the Grippen is the the playing that Canada needs for all our cold weather areas. With granddaughter in the military, I would much prefer her be in a plane that is going to be as safe as possible. Making them with Canadian hands I would trust much more.
Thanks for a very good article on future defence spending. I’m sure the American military industrial complex will make their concerns known at the White House. Best of luck with that.
A big hurdle will be Canadian Armed Forces leadership, who for generations have been trained that closer integration and interoperability with the United States is our goal. It is a huge change in mindset for them. As well, many senior CAF leaders move into lobbyist roles for American defence companies after they retire.
The government and Canadians will have to actively monitor for requirements that eliminate Canadian or European alternatives in favour of American ones. One recent example would be night vision goggles linked below. The default response is that the American equipment is “the best” but many NATO allies use alternatives.
Some other big ones floating around now are HIMARS and of course those arguing that we need a 100% F-35 fighter fleet because apparently we are incapable of managing a mixed fleet.
There is a multitude of states worldwide with uncomfortable borders: Eire/NI, Finland/USSR, India/Pakistan Taiwan Ukraine Palestine et al. No one in their sanity shares anything with folks over the border unless it’s a fully open border.
The other, less talked about advantage to reclaiming our defense spending domestically is the jobs creation it can bring.
Certainly, automation will be a major part of any new manufacturing upscaling. But there will still be a human component as part of it, both in engineering the designs, and in shop floor hands-on roles, like on-site IT, troubleshooting production, key points assembly, etc.
We have a critical skills base of people from the auto sector that can be re-tasked, and the most educated workforce in the world. We have the people, the smarts, and the vision.
It's time to kick the tires, and light the fires!
Plus if we build them, we fix them on our own timeline and not the US timeline. We paid for 18 F 35 a number of years ago and we haven't received one yet. Apparently the first one is rolling off the production line for us in August. We have a few pilots down training on it. But they can only be repaired in the statesand only land and be stored in extra large hangers so we run into more problems.
Plus I also need to add F-35's are reported to be not good in good weather such as in our Arctic! Duh!!
The Swedish Gripen designed in cold weather Sweden knows what it's like to fly without stalling because the fuel line froze in Alaska. No I don't know what part of Alaska, but the majority of Alaska is not as far north as the Arctic Circle which these planes need to be in to maintain our sovereignty over the northwest passage.
We would be working with the Nordic countries to help maintain that passage
It makes a lot of sense to me to take what we ordered from the US even if it takes 18 years to get them here 2 1/2 days to repair them apparently but they'll do well for along the coastline and across the southern part of Canada.the Grippen is the the playing that Canada needs for all our cold weather areas. With granddaughter in the military, I would much prefer her be in a plane that is going to be as safe as possible. Making them with Canadian hands I would trust much more.
Thanks for a very good article on future defence spending. I’m sure the American military industrial complex will make their concerns known at the White House. Best of luck with that.
Plus, the Europeans know they can trust Canada. Not so with the Trump Regime.
A big hurdle will be Canadian Armed Forces leadership, who for generations have been trained that closer integration and interoperability with the United States is our goal. It is a huge change in mindset for them. As well, many senior CAF leaders move into lobbyist roles for American defence companies after they retire.
The government and Canadians will have to actively monitor for requirements that eliminate Canadian or European alternatives in favour of American ones. One recent example would be night vision goggles linked below. The default response is that the American equipment is “the best” but many NATO allies use alternatives.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/feds-told-reboot-100-million-090050123.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABGFDHp07x6p0y4XJ529ijSGJkPpevn7nWZRsfRUX4_WfbuXqeoHGOlc4VwLN9fW1mUn-1jBouhZwRuOMPn0IGtuNDTg_1t4cjcjB0x6LSSSYqSschMEqkcnZDNt7vuI3TVI9qmYoh48JupqfbZPYLZts77L-jcR88b3AQjNPN4d
Some other big ones floating around now are HIMARS and of course those arguing that we need a 100% F-35 fighter fleet because apparently we are incapable of managing a mixed fleet.
There is a multitude of states worldwide with uncomfortable borders: Eire/NI, Finland/USSR, India/Pakistan Taiwan Ukraine Palestine et al. No one in their sanity shares anything with folks over the border unless it’s a fully open border.