F-35 controversy again.

The F-35 has a radar profile of a baseball at the speed of sound."

The Super Hornets are nice planes without a doubt.  But they would die without seeing what was attacking them.  Missiles are launched from 10s of miles away.  A steal jet gets them off while still being off the radar.  No radar, no missile launch.

The $ figure for the purchase of the f-35 is almost the same as the DIFFERENCE  between the budget Office ESTIMATE of the deficit 2010, and what the ACTUAL deficit.  We saved about that much last year.
The Budget Office predictions have been somewhat bizarre of late, almost partisan-if not thoroughly pessimistic.

Canada sent 6 planes to the Libya mission. 6.  Pathetic.  Why only 6?  Was the the number available to fly?  The rest in the shop?

Canada isn't paying 6.9 Billion to 30 billion up front.  We don't start paying until 2018, and pay only on delivery.  It might be 2025 before we get all 65 planes.

Canadian companies are going to earn 12 billion + supplying parts for 3,000 planes.  While the Budget Office was large on its cost estimates, it didn't allow for the tax revenues Canada will earn from its aeronautics sector.

Countries who are feet-dragging today will be clamoring tomorrow.

On the opening night of the Libya engagement, B2 Stealth bombers flew with impunity against enemy radar installations--quickly taking them out.  That is the advantage of stealth.  Previously unavailable to Nato and its allies, we now have an opportunity to acquire the technology.  Canadians war-gaming with the US, our f-18s against f-22s (stealth) were completely wiped out without seeing it coming.
10 years ago our pilot's skills would assure this would never happen.  Today is bad, tomorrow will be worse.