Dassault & Airbus Team-Up - What Does it Mean for the CF-18 Replacement

By: Daniel Maillet, CAF Dispatch Author

Breaking news was announced today from the Berlin Airshow that Dassault Aviation and Airbus are teaming up to build what can only be considered a "Fifth" or "Fifth & Half" Generation Fighter Jet - what does this news mean for the future of both companies attempt to export the Rafael and the Typhoon?

French air force flies Rafale B fighter jets like this one photographed in operations over Mali last year. Dassault Aviation wants Canada to choose the Rafale as a replacement for the CF-18, and is willing to have the planes assembled in Canada. (Anthony Jeuland/French Air Force)

In the brief announcement, Dassault and Airbus indicated that they would be starting work immediately on a new fighter jet that will at first supplement both the Dassault Rafael and the Eurofighter Typhoon; but the long-term goal is for this new fighter to replace both jets between 2030-2040.

That leaves one question for those us of on the other side of the Atlantic. What does this mean for the RCAF CF-18 Replacement?

The official list of approved bidders in the process are: (In Alphabetical Order)

• France—Dassault Aviation (Thales DMS France SAS and Safran Aircraft Engines)
• Sweden—SAAB AB (publ)—Aeronautics 
• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland—Airbus Defense and Space GmbH 
• United States—Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company)
• United States—The Boeing Company

In Canada's search for a new fighter jet - the Dassault Rafael and the Eurofighter Typhoon are among the options. While many consider the Typhoon too expensive, and the Rafael too limited in its use - they are not top contenders. This is despite Dassault having repeatedly offering to transfer technologies to Canada and build the Rafael aircraft in Canada. Others argue that both aircraft are also incapable of interoperability with the US and Canada's NORAD commitments. This argument seems weak - especially when you consider Rafael aircraft were used alongside USAF fighters in the recent bombing of Syria. I digress... 

Canada has recently announced that it will extend the life-expectancy of its current fleet of CF-18s from 2025-2030. Will this announcement mean Canada might look to supplement its current CF-18 fleet until this new aircraft arrives? Will Dassault and Airbus be able to pitch or even offer it to the Canadian Government as a viable option? 

Dassault & Airbus Team up to Build Next European Fighter Jet

By: The Associated Press - Originally Published on Defense News 

Airbus and Dassault Aviation have joined forces to develop and produce Europe’s Future Combat Air System. (Airbus Defence and Space)

BERLIN — European plane-maker Airbus and France’s Dassault Aviation have agreed to join forces to develop and produce a new European fighter jet.

The two companies’ announcement at an air show in Berlin on Wednesday follows a decision in principle last year by the French and German governments to develop a new fighter jet together.

The new aircraft is slated at first to complement and then replace the Eurofighter and Rafale aircraft currently in use, between 2035 and 2040.

Dirk Hoke, the CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said that “never before has Europe been more determined to safeguard and foster its political and industrial autonomy and sovereignty in the defense sector.”

He said the “schedule is tight” and the companies need to start work immediately on a project road map.

Canada Announces 88 Fighter Replacement Competition; Includes "Boeing Clause"

By Amanda Connolly, National Online Journalist Global News

The Canadian government is launching a competition to buy a new fleet of 88 fighter jets and officials confirmed Tuesday they will also be buying an interim fleet of 18 jets from Australia rather than Boeing.

The Canadian Press - RCAF CF-18

READ MORE: Boeing not backing down on Bombardier trade challenge as Canada pivots on jets

A clause in the announcement effectively suggests that if Boeing wants to bid on the competition itself, it better back down in its trade challenge of Bombardier.

The announcement, which follows up on a campaign pledge by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold a competition to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 Hornets, does not exclude Lockheed Martin from submitting a bid for the government to consider its F-35 fighter jet as had also been promised in the Liberals’ 2015 campaign platform.

Government officials speaking on background prior to the announcement on Tuesday said no potential bidders are being excluded but that any firm engaging in activities that hurt Canadian economic interests will be at a steep disadvantage.

“When bids are assessed, any bidder that is responsible for harm to Canada’s economic interests will be at a distinct disadvantage,” the press release states.

That aspect of the announcement seems specifically aimed at Boeing, the American aerospace firm that is challenging government subsidies of Bombardier at the U.S. Commerce Department.

Boeing complained about the subsidies after it says Bombardier sold C-Series jets to Delta Airlines at a steep discount, and the U.S. Commerce Department sided with Boeing this fall when it recommended implementing a 300 per cent tariff on the sale.

That tariff will not go into place until the U.S. International Trade Tribunal rules on the decision next year.

Early in 2016, the government had announced that it would buy sole-sourced interim fighter jets from Boeing to fill what it claimed was a “capability gap” in allowing the military to meet both its NATO and NORAD commitments at the same time.

Air force officials disputed those claims, saying the military realistically did not need to be able to meet both commitments at the same time.

Officials said Tuesday buying the interim jets from Australia will fill that “capability gap” until a full fleet can be acquired, and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said in a statement that there will no issues with buying second-hand jets from the Australians.

“This is a natural fit; the Australian jets are functionally equivalent to our own CF-18s and, once converted to Canadian specifications, will provide an easy transition for our pilots, technicians, and ground crew,” he said.

“I am fully confident that this supplemental capability will help the [Royal Canadian Air Force] meet our domestic and international obligations until a replacement fighter is chosen and acquired.”

READ MORE: Canada scraps Boeing fighter jet deal, will buy used Australian F-18s instead

Officials said Tuesday the cost is being estimated at roughly half a billion dollars for the interim replacement, while roughly $15 billion to $19 billion will be set aside for the full competition.

A letter outlining the terms is expected to be in the government’s hands by the end of December.
What comes next?

First up in the process is inviting interested bidders to sign up for what is essentially a list of interested suppliers by February 9, 2018.

Firms that do not register by then will not be considered as the competition heads forward.

Next, bids will be evaluated on a basis of cost, whether they meet Canada’s technical requirements, and what the economic benefits are of the proposal.

As part of the latter, an assessment of whether the bidder is causing economic harm to Canada will be considered.

Consultations will run through 2018 and 2019, with formal solicitation documents expected to be made available in spring 2019.

A contract award is expected in 2022 and the government says it expects to have the first aircraft resulting from the award of the contract in its possession by 2025.

Canada launches contest for 88 new fighter aircraft

How to measure ‘economic harm?’

Government officials refused to say exactly how they plan to calculate the concept of “economic harm” when pressed by reporters on Tuesday.

A statement from Boeing last week suggested the company had made peace with the loss of the interim fighter deal but was trying to smooth out relations in the hope of keeping the option open for potential future work.

“Although we will not have the opportunity to grow our supply base, industrial partnerships and jobs in Canada the way we would if Canada purchased new Super Hornets, we will continue to look to find productive ways to work together in the future,” the company wrote.

“Boeing is fortunate to have an outstanding 100 years of partnership with Canada, which had culminated in our [$4-billion] annual economic impact in Canada, and we look forward to partnering for the next 100 years.”

Canadian officials would not say explicitly whether the clause was aimed at getting Boeing to drop its complaint against Bombardier.

Will Airbus-Bombardier Alliance Pave the way for Canada to purchase Eurofighter?

By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch 

Airbus officials made a pitch yesterday at a Quebec aerospace forum for a Canadian purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Airbus Canada President Simon Jacques, like his counterparts at Lockheed Martin Canada, called for an open and fair competition for the fighter replacement.

“We have a very good plane,” he said, referring to the Typhoon. “If the tender comes out with criteria that are fair to everyone – that is to say that no matter the company – it’s open and fair, if it’s a real competition, absolutely we have a chance to win.”

Airbus currently has the contract to provide the RCAF with a fleet of new search and rescue aircraft. Jacques has noted that Airbus is associated with a number of Canadian firms, such as CAE. A Canadian team would be designed to offer the Typhoon to the RCAF, he added.

With the takeover of the Bombardier CSeries by Airbus, the European consortium is now in a favorable position for any fighter jet competition, the Quebec newspaper Le Devoir has suggested.


But Jacques declined to comment on what may come because of the deal with Bombardier.

European aerospace firms, BAE, Leonardo and Airbus are partners in the Typhoon program.

Eurofighter Typhoon has become the backbone of the air forces in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia, the companies point out.

Lockheed Martin Admits it didn't enter CC-130J for FWSAR

Four days ago David Pugliese published an article in The Ottawa Citizen that said Lockheed Martin didn't bid on the RCAF's FWSAR program; despite having indicated in June 2015 that it would. 

Today, Pugliese's Defence Watch published the following article about Lockheed admitting it did not bid. 

Lockheed Martin has decided to reverse its questionable public relations strategy and finally confirm what was reported last week – that it did not submit a bid for the Canadian government’s fixed wing search and rescue (FWSAR) program.

Defence Watch, as well as Skies magazine, published the news last week that Lockheed Martin didn’t submit a bid.

But at the time Lockheed Martin was still sticking to its media line: “Out of respect for the procurement process, Lockheed Martin does not comment on competitive tenders that are underway.”

As noted earlier, this statement, which LM had been repeating for months, is laughable. Companies love to talk about their products to the news media and LM’s competitors have been holding press conferences and briefings on their FWSAR submissions.

In fact, for the last couple of years, Lockheed Martin officials had been highlighting how great their C-130J would be for the FWSAR program.

All that changed and the “out of respect for the procurement process” media line materialized when Lockheed’s proposal ran into trouble.

So with the bids in, and news reports from Defence Watch and Skies magazine that Lockheed Martin was a no-show for FWSAR (and queries also coming in from the U.S. media), the firm has decided to change its message.

“Lockheed Martin participated in the FWSAR procurement process as a potential bidder,” the company noted in a new statement Monday to Defence Watch. “After following an extensive and thorough analysis of the RFP’s requirements, we decided to not submit a formal response to Canada’s FWSAR RFP. We remain fully committed to supporting the RCAF and its CC-130J fleet as it continues to perform the tactical transport role in Canada for decades to come.”

Lockheed Martin, however, has not explained why it didn’t bid. But its competitors have toldDefence Watch the firm decided against bidding because the in-service support costs for the C-130J are extremely high, making a proposal a non-starter.

Embraer, Alenia and Airbus all bid on the $3.1 billion FWSAR program.

Possible FWSAR Training Center at CFB Comox

Industry insiders have informed the Ottawa Citizen's Defence Watch, that both Alenia Aermacchi and Airbus; who are the two firms that are expected to directly compete for the CAF's FWSAR replacement of the Buffalo Aircraft, are leaning towards establishing a FWSAR Training Center at 19 Wing Comox as part of their bidding process. Bids are due by January 2016 (in the latest attempt to purchase a replacement for the CC-115 Buffalo FWSAR that are nearing 50 years of age.) A replacement for the aircraft was due in 2009 - but the project has been shelved and delayed several times already.

Below is the Original Article published by David Pugliese. 



Representatives of Team Spartan, including Alenia Aermacchi director Roberto Leva and Ian McIntyre, training solutions specialist for DRS Technologies, recently announced the team’s plans to establish a FWSAR training centre at 19 Wing Comox as part of its bid for the Fixed Wing Search and Rescue project.

The team is offering the C-27J Spartan for the RCAF’s fixed wing search and rescue project. Bids are to be submitted by January.

An industry mock-up for the C-27J Spartan in CAF SAR colors 

Team Spartan noted that the request for proposals pointed out that any of the CF bases used for fixed wing search and rescue could house the operational training unit. Team Spartan is still flexible – if need be -on where the training centre could go but it has been working towards the approach that it will be established at 19 Wing Comox.

Airbus Defence, which is offering Canada the C-295 for FWSAR, is also leaning in that direction.

An industry mock-up for the C-295 in CAF SAR colors 

“We’ve not finalized that element of our bid yet, but Comox is currently the preferred location,” spokesman Michael Powell told Defence Watch.

Fixed-Wing SAR Bids Extended

The search for a new fixed-wing SAR aircraft for the RCAF has been delayed again... this time at the request of the 'industry' who asked for more time to prepare their bids.

The RCAF has been looking to replace its fixed-wing Buffalo aircraft, which were purchased in 1967, since 2004. The bidding process has been started and postponed several since since then. Bids we originally due September 28, 2015, with a contract to be awarded at some point in 2016, and deliveries taking place by 2023.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, the RCAF have extended the bidding process to January 11, 2016 at the request of the industry. The RCAF did not say which companies have asked for the extension. Earlier this year Lockheed-Martin was concerned their C-130J Super Hercules was too large to fit the requirements of the RCAF FWSAR program, and considered not bidding - so perhaps the extension is being granted for Lockheed-Martin if they choose to bid anyway. Boeing-Bell have announced that they will not bid with the V-22 Osprey, even though they believe it is the best suited for SAR.

Several companies have been interested in the contract, and have been ready for several years, just waiting for an opportunity to bid.  To see which companies are expected to bid, please see my original post when the bidding process was re-opened earlier this year. RCAF Hopeful for New SAR

Lockheed Martin C-130J to too large for RCAF FWSAR?

Bids for the replacement of the RCAF's 40 year old Buffalo fixed wing search and rescue (FWSAR) aircraft are due in September 2015, and Lockheed Martin has not yet decided whether or not to offer a bid on the project.

Alenia (offering their C-27J Spartan) and Airbus (offering their C295) are both keen to have their bids for the project. Both have been advertising their perspective aircraft for years to industry experts.

It is not because of the two competitors that Lockheed Martin might not bid, but the size of their C-130J Hercules aircraft.  Lockheed Martin is currently going over the 4,000 page request from the Canadian Government and the RCAF for operational requirements.

Many inside Lockheed Martin feel the size of the C-130J will disqualify it from the competition, and when millions of dollars go into investing in a competition, one wants their aircraft to have a legitimate change at winning the bid. Both the C-27J Spartan and C295 are considerably smaller aircraft, which would give them a higher level of manoeuvrability in the mountainous regions of Canada where the FWSAR would be expected to operate.

So, at the moment, Lockheed Martin, has not yet decided to enter a bid into the FWSAR project.