[Newsbot]

Title: Industry Canada, DND feud over how to spend $3 billion
Category: Military
Posted By: Hyack
Date: 2009-03-26 09:09:43
Canadian

[saturn_656]

$1:

In January, the Ottawa-based Aerospace Industries Association of Canada also wrote Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Industry Minister Tony Clement asking that the current procurement system be revamped. The association raised concerns that the purchase of C-17 and C-130J military transport planes from U.S. manufacturers had not resulted in quality jobs for domestic firms.

No Canadian aerospace company produces a product comparable to either the C-17 or C-130.

That is not the fault of the federal government.

However I see no reason why Viking Air's new built Buffalo's should not be considered for FWSAR.

Bombardier doesn't produce any a/c with a rear loading ramp, a FWSAR requirement. They don't have a chance.

Airbus can take its C-295 and "take off". We shouldn't forget what they did to PWC.

[bootlegga]

The Buffalo has served this country for a long time, and for us not ot even let a Canadian firm bid on a project is unfathomable.

[Canadian_Mind]

Air force likes interoperability and commonality with Hercs, higher speed, higher altitude, and longer range.

Speed and altitude can be improved on the Buffalo, but commonality with Hercs would still be next to none, I dunno about range changes.

Only thing really going for it performance wise is low speed capability and STOL, which while very valueable assets once on station, aren't usefull until you get on station. Considering the vast distances, getting from Comox to the artic circle could take 12 hours in a Buffalo, including one or more pitstops to refuel.