Russia’s Sukhoi has rocked the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget with the premiere of its cutting-edge Su-35 fighter. Super-maneuverable even for a Sukhoi, the Su-35 has been dubbed the “UFO” for its outstanding maneuverability. New engines enable Su-35 to perform all kinds of stunts, including Pugachev's Cobra, the Frolov Chakra, the Dead Leaf, and the unprecedented Pancake, which is an horizontal 360-degree made turn without losing speed.
Fighter jet for Canada??
- Thread starter danmand
- Start date
May be a great plane, but you'd have problems of supply, and identifying friend or foe. Being back the Avro Arrow. Our requirements never changed.
Agreed.
For all the money we're going to dump into this boondoggle, we might as well dump it into Canada and not the usa.
Why would we buy 25 year-old Russian aircraft when the Russians aren't even fielding them? They're a technology showcase not a viable combat platform.
We can buy anything from anyone, but in the end we need to be NATO compatible. Somehow I don't see this happening with a Sukkoi. The Russians have always made highly advanced planes from a maneuverable point of view, but the old days of dog fighting got lost after Vietnam, in the real world you need to be able to someone / something from beyond visual sight. Western equipment for decades has always been far more advanced in these areas.
It would be kinda cool for Canada to buy a Russian fighter jet. Completely impractical but still kinda cool. The US would be so pissed off, hahaha.
We didn't overlook them. The US won't sell them. They are too technologically advanced for them to export them. There has been recent talk of softening that stance to their closest and most trusted allies, but it's still felt that they would have to reduce their capabilities a bit to satisfy the US government about what technology gets exported. But if we had sticker shock over the F-35, I can only imagine what people would think of the bill for F-22's.
At a glance maybe, but they are very different. The Sukhoi relies less on low observability as the Russians believe it is a technology that is easily deflatable (I agree with their point of view) they will use stealth on cruise missiles and drones more and use stealth differently on their planes. One thing about the SU-35 and PAK FA, is they all have massive un-refuelled ranges that make them very well suited for our needs. Too bad they are made by the Russians, they would be perfect for Canada....but we only buy from our American overlords. We will buy the F-35.. no question at all. Either that of the Silent Eagle.
may I suggest that Canada instead of overpriced high maintenance fighter jets buys a fleet of Bombardier wide body business jets. They will be just fine for patrolling the airspace, and they are much lower in cost and maintenance than the F35's. Money will stay in Canada and provide employment here.
If it is absolutely necessary, modify them to carry a few heat seeking air to air missiles or similar.
If it is absolutely necessary, modify them to carry a few heat seeking air to air missiles or similar.
Boeing picked BBD for it's MSA platform.. that is expected to require 152 mid size business jets.. so that should offset a few F-35's
