PODCAST

Buying New Fighter Jets: What's Actually Going On?

December 18, 2017

On today's Global Exchange Podcast, we look at Canada's fighter procurement process, and the recently-announced plan to replace Canada's aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets. Join host Dave Perry in conversation with CGAI Fellow Tom Ring as they discuss the long and controversial history of the CF-18 replacement process, the Liberal government's decision to wait until after the next election to choose its replacement fighter, and the decision to include a clause within the replacement process that will disincentivize any company that does 'harm to Canada’s economic interests'.

Participant Biographies

• Dave Perry (host): the Senior Analyst and a Fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He received his PhD in political science from Carleton University, where his dissertation examined the link between defence budgeting and defence procurement.
• Tom Ring: A Canadian Global Affairs Institute Fellow and former Assistant Deputy Minister (Acquisitions) at Public Works and Government Services Canada, as well as former Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs) at the Department of National Defence.

Related Links

• "Gaming the CF-18 Fighter Replacement: The Politicizing of a Military Procurement" - by Alan Stephenson (CGAI Policy Update)
• "Canada Looks to the Past for Fighter Fix while Allies Fly in the 21st Century" - by Matthew Fisher (CGAI Policy Update)
• "Canada spurns Boeing, eyes purchase of second-hand Australian fighter jets" - by Bruce Campion-Smith (Toronto Star)
• "Aging fighter jets to be replaced in mid-2020s, Liberals will buy used Aussie planes as stopgap" - by Murray Brewster (CBC News)

Book Recommendations

• Tom Ring: “The Mountain Shadow” by Gregory David Roberts