The Government of Canada has told Boeing that the offer of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters does not meet its requirements. Thus, the company is out of competition to replace the old CF-188 Hornet.
According to Lee Berthiaume of Times Colonist, three anonymous industry and Canadian government sources said the company received the notice on Wednesday (24). In contrast, Saab and Lockheed Martin were told they met the requirements.
Through the Future Fighter Capability Project (FF), Canada is seeking a model as a replacement for its already tired legacy F/A-18 Hornets, designated CF-188 by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
With the possible departure of Boeing and the F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed's F-35A and the Saab's JAS-39E Gripen in the competition. Ottawa wants to acquire a total of 88 fighter jets for US$19 billion.
According to the portal, the Department of National Defense and Public Services and Procurement Canada, which isters the competition, did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday (25). A Boeing spokesman said the company would reserve comment until official notification from the government.
This is the latest twist in Canada's fighter acquisition program. Many observers saw the Super Hornet and the F-35 as the only realistic match because of Canada's close relationship with the United States. This includes using fighter jets together to defend US airspace.
Those perceptions were heightened after two other European companies pulled out of the competition before it even started, complaining that government demands had stacked the deck in favor of their American rivals.
"There has been a lot of speculation about whether a non-US fighter could actually be a real competitor, given Canada's requirements for interoperability with the United States," said defense analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. “If they are still in contention, Saab has obviously reached that milestone.”
And while he acknowledged it was a surprise to see Boeing pull out, Perry suggested the result could bolster the government's claims that it is conducting fair and impartial competition.
