Do not buy f-35. No trust. Costs are spiralling up. Look at the never ending swiss problem. And trump (or somebody else) can always render your air force quite inoperable. It’s like a tesla… they update their software (no source code of course), what they want when they want and you have no say in the process. Go swedish please. Thank you for your attention into this matter. Best of luck
I worked with Canada while serving in the USAF. They are great people and partners. If the US violates that airspace, we are illegal. As an Air Traffic Controller we (U.S.) shared airspace with the Canadians who often landed at our base for refueling and joint missions. What this Nazi regime is doing is blackmail and coercion!
I hope that Canada refuses the U.S. demands, I would also leave the U.S. and ask Canada if I could help them in Command and Control in GlobalEye.
Thanks Kary, I don't take a decision like that lightly. I signed an Oath to this country but, if this Nazi Regime continues to break our Constitution. I will leave.
The more the USA threatens and blackmails those who were once its allies, the more their loss of trust deepens. Depending on US weapons becomes highly undesirable, especially when they are late and way over budget. Europe and Canada plus Japan can build what’s needed.
As we have seen with Ukraine, USA is prepared to cut off critical intelligence and supplies when it is most needed. The allies (which now excludes USA), have to work on that assumption.
Still can’t believe that I have to write this, but the Trump regime has made its position crystal clear.
The F35 purchase stopped being a capability question on oh, about January 21, 2025. Politics has been and will continue to be the main driver regardless of what the military or tech spec fanatics go on about. The Saab offer is a bonus and Canada may be able to provide other nations with Gripens simultaneously with Canadian requirements (think Ukraine). However we have another procurement for submarines that should be setting procurement hair on fire. This is an absolute necessity for arctic security and dovetails nicely with NATO's newfound enthusiasm for arctic operations. BTW, South Korea is visiting next week to see if they can boost the prospect for their version. Thanks for the support and really admire the clear thinking and writing from you.
Wes, this is fully in keeping with our Griftocracy agenda. The unmitigated gall to think we can blackmail the Canadians into taking on a weapons platform that we would then be able to manipulate as we have done to the Ukrainians.
Were we looking at say, “the deal” (more art than science apparently, if you were to listen to some fringe authors), I’m betting that the cost overrun alone would be grounds for a walk away. Not to mention the overt hostile diplomacy from this regime.
No government in their right minds would trust us to shoot square regarding their defense at this point. Policy by fever dream should not be Canada’s choice.
What is best for their safety should be. And we REALLY aren’t showing any interest in that regard.
These are certainly challenging times. Like many Canadians I advocate for a mixed fleet (to honour 16 bought plus required number) minimum F35 to sustain NORAD and maximum Gripen for NORAD and NATO. The challenge of two fighter programmes is real, Canada has done this before and many “friendly” allies do today.
As for the American Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, Canada could revoke his credentials, sort of a diplomatic Armageddon. Wouldn’t that cause the Donald to go hypersonic….
The F-35 is an American Trojan horse! There is no reason for any country to have them in their arsenal, as they can be easily disabled by the US, from the Pentagon via the always active satlink
There’s no such kill switch. The threat is access to parts, software updates, etc. I think access to satellites is also something the U.S. could switch off (not GPS, but information-sharing satellites)?
Another great article, Wes. What a gift you have. Exactly the economic coercion that Canada's PM referred to and what we are seeing. A previous post or article highlights the value proposition of the Gripen versus the insanely expensive F-35. All sound arguments and why, after the ongoing threats and crushing impact on the Canadian economy wrought by the Administration's trade and trust decisions, the Canadians have to look at other options. Keep moving forward, Wes...great content.
Hi Julio, Gripen does have a real, honest-to-God pedigree for cold, austere, dispersed ops. It was built around Sweden’s whole concept of surviving a first strike by operating from short runways and road bases with small ground crews and fast turnarounds. Saab still markets and demonstrates that cold, dispersed basing idea as a core feature, because it’s basically the point of the aircraft.
The F-35, by contrast, definitely has a more demanding support ecosystem. That doesn’t mean it can’t do Arctic. Norway flies the F-35 out of Evenes for NATO quick reaction alert, which is about as “high north” as it gets without handing the crew skis and a compass. The U.S. also put the jet through extreme cold-weather testing in Alaska during its test program, because nobody wanted to discover the limits the fun way.
Here's what I can say for sure: The F-35 may be more infrastructure-hungry and maintenance-intensive in Arctic conditions, and that can drag sortie rates and drive costs up unless you invest heavily in shelters, spares, trained maintainers, and a steady logistics pipeline. Gripen tends to look better if your priority is dispersal and high tempo from rougher locations.
Several f-35s have Frozen up in Alaska, and crashed. They don't work well taking off and landing in Arctic weather they accumulate moisture which freezes in various systems and, causes crashes.
So should canada decide to buy f35's It would be wrong on so many levels. They don't work in the cold weather, the US controls key components and parts delivery, and we may never see delivery even though it's paid.
Thanks for the clear-eyed viewpoint, Wes. It's easy for a reader like me to get emotional and just say F the US over the F-35. However, you note that it isn't a simple calculus and that Canada has a complicated decision to put together. Keeping it real is why I read you first.
Looks like the USA blackmailing Canada is exactly the reason to move away from depending on them for defence weapons.
100%
Do not buy f-35. No trust. Costs are spiralling up. Look at the never ending swiss problem. And trump (or somebody else) can always render your air force quite inoperable. It’s like a tesla… they update their software (no source code of course), what they want when they want and you have no say in the process. Go swedish please. Thank you for your attention into this matter. Best of luck
I worked with Canada while serving in the USAF. They are great people and partners. If the US violates that airspace, we are illegal. As an Air Traffic Controller we (U.S.) shared airspace with the Canadians who often landed at our base for refueling and joint missions. What this Nazi regime is doing is blackmail and coercion!
I hope that Canada refuses the U.S. demands, I would also leave the U.S. and ask Canada if I could help them in Command and Control in GlobalEye.
A Veteran!
Thank you sir! So good to hear from those in the know. I'm sure we would take you up on your kind offer regardless of where this heads.
Thanks Kary, I don't take a decision like that lightly. I signed an Oath to this country but, if this Nazi Regime continues to break our Constitution. I will leave.
Be safe!
Thank you.❤️🇨🇦
Japan paid in full for F35's and they are still waiting for delivery - how many years now???
5 years.
Ridiculous.
The US is still eyeing a takeover of Canada.
Get the order.
Get paid.
Don’t deliver what Canada paid for so they can’t defend themselves against invasion.
Dirty dirty dealing.
Ambassadors threatening the country hosting them? How delightful.
This is a sickening timeline to be living in.
They may win the 88 F-35 contract. I doubt it, Carney plays tough. He knows the stakes.
But Lockheed Martin will lose hundreds of F-35 plane and supply contracts around the world.
Does Canada want to send its money to a country that threatens Canada and has open death squads roaming around?
I can’t see in any smart world that makes sense. Maybe NORAD needs to be revised.
The more the USA threatens and blackmails those who were once its allies, the more their loss of trust deepens. Depending on US weapons becomes highly undesirable, especially when they are late and way over budget. Europe and Canada plus Japan can build what’s needed.
As we have seen with Ukraine, USA is prepared to cut off critical intelligence and supplies when it is most needed. The allies (which now excludes USA), have to work on that assumption.
Still can’t believe that I have to write this, but the Trump regime has made its position crystal clear.
The F35 purchase stopped being a capability question on oh, about January 21, 2025. Politics has been and will continue to be the main driver regardless of what the military or tech spec fanatics go on about. The Saab offer is a bonus and Canada may be able to provide other nations with Gripens simultaneously with Canadian requirements (think Ukraine). However we have another procurement for submarines that should be setting procurement hair on fire. This is an absolute necessity for arctic security and dovetails nicely with NATO's newfound enthusiasm for arctic operations. BTW, South Korea is visiting next week to see if they can boost the prospect for their version. Thanks for the support and really admire the clear thinking and writing from you.
Hey Kary, I’m sure you follow True North Strategic Review. There is much sub stuff today on Korean/Canadian MOU’s.
Thanks, just haven't waded that far in today. Look forward to reading it.
Wes, this is fully in keeping with our Griftocracy agenda. The unmitigated gall to think we can blackmail the Canadians into taking on a weapons platform that we would then be able to manipulate as we have done to the Ukrainians.
Were we looking at say, “the deal” (more art than science apparently, if you were to listen to some fringe authors), I’m betting that the cost overrun alone would be grounds for a walk away. Not to mention the overt hostile diplomacy from this regime.
No government in their right minds would trust us to shoot square regarding their defense at this point. Policy by fever dream should not be Canada’s choice.
What is best for their safety should be. And we REALLY aren’t showing any interest in that regard.
Edited due to spelling malfeasance 🙄
“Griftocracy!” Love it. I haven’t heard that.
Trademark! I may have just made it up, but I can’t imagine someone else hasn’t rolled it out regarding this cabal of the untalented 😏.
These are certainly challenging times. Like many Canadians I advocate for a mixed fleet (to honour 16 bought plus required number) minimum F35 to sustain NORAD and maximum Gripen for NORAD and NATO. The challenge of two fighter programmes is real, Canada has done this before and many “friendly” allies do today.
As for the American Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, Canada could revoke his credentials, sort of a diplomatic Armageddon. Wouldn’t that cause the Donald to go hypersonic….
The F-35 is an American Trojan horse! There is no reason for any country to have them in their arsenal, as they can be easily disabled by the US, from the Pentagon via the always active satlink
There’s no such kill switch. The threat is access to parts, software updates, etc. I think access to satellites is also something the U.S. could switch off (not GPS, but information-sharing satellites)?
The U.S. would then revoke the credentials of the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., right?
Most definitely!
Given all this you gotta go with Saab. The US is proving to be a feckless ally and Canada would be justified in canceling the F35 procurement
Another great article, Wes. What a gift you have. Exactly the economic coercion that Canada's PM referred to and what we are seeing. A previous post or article highlights the value proposition of the Gripen versus the insanely expensive F-35. All sound arguments and why, after the ongoing threats and crushing impact on the Canadian economy wrought by the Administration's trade and trust decisions, the Canadians have to look at other options. Keep moving forward, Wes...great content.
I've also seen reporting that the F-35 is not nearly as reliable in arctic conditions as the Gripen - Wes can you share any insights on this?
Hi Julio, Gripen does have a real, honest-to-God pedigree for cold, austere, dispersed ops. It was built around Sweden’s whole concept of surviving a first strike by operating from short runways and road bases with small ground crews and fast turnarounds. Saab still markets and demonstrates that cold, dispersed basing idea as a core feature, because it’s basically the point of the aircraft.
The F-35, by contrast, definitely has a more demanding support ecosystem. That doesn’t mean it can’t do Arctic. Norway flies the F-35 out of Evenes for NATO quick reaction alert, which is about as “high north” as it gets without handing the crew skis and a compass. The U.S. also put the jet through extreme cold-weather testing in Alaska during its test program, because nobody wanted to discover the limits the fun way.
Here's what I can say for sure: The F-35 may be more infrastructure-hungry and maintenance-intensive in Arctic conditions, and that can drag sortie rates and drive costs up unless you invest heavily in shelters, spares, trained maintainers, and a steady logistics pipeline. Gripen tends to look better if your priority is dispersal and high tempo from rougher locations.
Several f-35s have Frozen up in Alaska, and crashed. They don't work well taking off and landing in Arctic weather they accumulate moisture which freezes in various systems and, causes crashes.
So should canada decide to buy f35's It would be wrong on so many levels. They don't work in the cold weather, the US controls key components and parts delivery, and we may never see delivery even though it's paid.
Thanks for the clear-eyed viewpoint, Wes. It's easy for a reader like me to get emotional and just say F the US over the F-35. However, you note that it isn't a simple calculus and that Canada has a complicated decision to put together. Keeping it real is why I read you first.
I really cannot see a single reason Canada should buy f-35. Buying Gripen is a win/win decision. I also think they should be built in New Brunswick
Very interesting - thank you Wes.