Derek 2.0

Exactly, the F-35 is a system of systems, far more important then its other physical attributes........something 4th generation aircraft like the Super Hornet can never hope to be.

Not at all......the Danes, in their one year competition, found the F-35 to be far more capable and cheaper then the Super Hornet.

No, the reduction in the fighter force size (which put further pressure on the remaining fleet) and our joining of the Joint Strike Fighter program began under the previous Liberal government.

Right, but even then, from what's been made public by actual F-35 pilots, the F-35 won't have any concerns "dog fighting" with legacy types. ------------ In the case of Vietnam, the medium range Sparrow was very ineffective, averaging 3-4 missiles expended for a kill (if any).......thus, for an F-4 with a typical loadout of 4x Sparrows and 4x Sidewinders (and later guns) they often had no choice but to dogfight with the Vietnamese.......with the addition of the internal gun and new tactics, the F-4 earned its nickname of the "World's largest distributor of MiG parts" for a reason.

I didn't say that there would be, nor have to be.........the head of the RCAF testified before committee that with the planned upgrade (by the Harper government) the GoC wouldn't need to select the replacement until ~2021, followed by the planned 3-5 year transition........this was noted in the National Post story posted by Argus several pages back, and I've cited the actual report numerous times in the various related threads.........oddly enough, said link is now "Page Not Found", none the less, this is rather clear: Said life extension was started by the Harper Government, hence, per the RCAF, the current legacy fleet would start to be reduced as the new aircraft entered service.....hence there is no reason for an interim type.....and that's assuming we actually need five more years to evaluate the various options........thus, this move by the Trudeau government is but a political choice......fore operationally the RCAF can meet its current commitments out to the mid 2020s and there is no need for a "interim type". Even Alan Williams, the Liberal appointment in charge of procurement, that actually signed us onto the F-35 program, is saying this is the worse possible path and is questioning if the sole source of an interim type is even legal and a waste of money.

And add Nikki Haley as UN Amd So far, of the six named members, I've gotten two right, mixed up Attorney General and SECDEF, didn't pick an Secretary of Education, nor pick a UN Ambassador.....it sounds like Carson will be going to Housing though, but has yet to confirm....

As stated, apples to oranges........during the Obama administration, the number of operational USN and USAF squadrons have been reduced, ergo the larger requirement for larger numbers of F-35s.........the same is true with all other nations (The UK, Italians, Dutch etc) with "reduced" F-35 buys.....a reflection of reduced defense budgets, not the F-35's reduced purchase price.........its worth noting, the Danes and Norwegians have both deduced the purchase of the F-35s the cheaper and more capable option then the Super Hornet.......in the case of the Danes, they were able to hold an open competition in just over a year. What is the Trudeau Liberal's problem?

More so would have been selecting the F-35 after promising not to do so.........oops

In operational squadron service with the USMC and USAF.

The entire Super Hornet platform was designed on the basis of being an interim type.......just as the original Hornet was a nod to tight budgets and small carrier decks in the 1970s. WRT to Canada, per the head of the RCAF, we have no need of an interim type within the next five years.

Ponder this.........in most areas, the F-4 Phantom had/has equal or better raw physical performance, especially on the deck, then the Hornet and Super Hornet........where as the Phantom, unlike the Hornet family, was an actual air superiority fighter........only limited in development in that arena by it's smaller nose (unable to fit a new, larger, radar like what was found in the F-15 and F-14) The only reason the Hornet bested a proposed "Super Phantom" was due to cost, and the fear it would cut the grass of the Tomcat.

World War II........though we had pilots on exchange with several allies, we had no fighters in Korea.

And in that time, they reduced by over a third our fighter force, well using the remainder in intensive operations overseas....and now are saying there is a "gap", despite the sworn statement by the head of the RCAF......this is nothing but a political punt.

That depends on the given airspace and ROE, for instance, missions over the Persian Gulf are found within heavily trafficked areas.......both by allies and civilians. Likewise Canada, on a NORAD tasking, they wouldn't splash a lone airliner from beyond visual range.......a stream of Russian bombers is of course a different story.

In some cases we are.........due to Liberal government interference and political punting.

More so, the head of the RCAF has stated we wouldn't need to make a selection for five years.

Nope........outside the NYPD and hospitals, all rooftop helipads have been banned in New York post 9/11, even prior to that several accidents on rooftops pushed them out of favor..........there is one along the river Midtown, which would be the closest to Trump Tower Though there would be different challenges, Trump Towers is in a city with a police force larger then most nations armies, a drastically increased security element post 9/11, numerous Federal agencies and Midtown Manhattan is a few minutes helicopter ride to several airports large enough for Air Force 1.

Your reaction to Trump still living in Trump Tower.........per the article: I don't know how thats any different then the current or past Presidents.......LBJ and W spent a considerable amount of time at their homes in Texas....Clinton Martha's Vineyard..Bush Snr in Maine....Reagan is California....and Obama at his estate in Hawaii........if Trump wants to spend as much time as possible at his homes in New York or Florida......I don't see an issue, if there is, Trump is SOL

You realize there currently is a family in it right? Security alone, I doubt Trump will have much of a choice......with that said, the original owner of Mar-a-Lago willed the estate to the US government to act as a Presidential retreat, which decades ago sold it off, and in turn was bought by Donald Trump.......

Match Reagan in terms of size? I agree, but then there isn't a real need with new capabilities afforded with technology, but I have no doubt the Pacific Pivot of Conventional Forces will be linked directly with future trade negotiations with the Chinese.

Mitt Romney as Secretary of State?......And Jeb Bush sightings near Trump Tower?

See it for sure, just pay attention really good for the last ~45 minutes.

Trump could be the best thing for the Japanese......which have been increasing their military capabilities for the last decade+.....tough love. I bet he pulls out of South Korea though.......depends on trade talks with the PRC

Though not a 600 ship fleet, he's proposed expansion from current levels (~300-310) up to a 350 ship fleet and a large expansion (IIRC by nearly 20%) of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children....likewise speeding up fleet renewal of the ageing USAF. Haven't heard much for the Army though......other then his national security team isn't opposed to leaving South Korea, Japan and several "Middle Eastern countries" if they don't pony up PDQ

Yes, and I have it on good authority that the dust is being blown off the proposed reactivation plans, for "exploratory reasons", of two (possibly four) other "major fleet units"....