CF-18s committed to Pacific military training exercise
Critics question Liberals’ claims of ‘capability gap’
Eight Canadian fighter jets will take part in a massive training exercise in the Pacific, despite the Liberal government warning the country does not have enough of the aircraft to defend North America and fulfil its NATO obligations.
The government says the month-long exercise is critical for training Canadian fighter pilots to work with allies — and the planes will return to Canada immediately if needed.
The Conservatives say their involvement proves Liberal claims of a fighter-jet shortage are not true.
The eight CF-18s arrived in Hawaii in early July as part of Canada’s contribution to the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), billed as one of the world’s largest military exercises. Twentyeight countries are participating in the U.S.-led exercise, which takes place every two years.
The fighter jets are expected to remain in the region until July 29. Canada also has four naval ships, six helicopters, two refuelling aircraft, a surveillance plane and more than 1,500 military personnel participating in RIMPAC.
Jordan Owens, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s spokeswoman, said the air contingent is the largest ever for Canada in the Pacific. The exercise allows Canadian pilots to operate together and work with counterparts from traditional and non-traditional allies throughout the Pacific region.
“We need to train pilots, and they have this opportunity to train with more than 20 other countries,” she said.
“This is essential for having a combat-capable air force.”
Yet Sajjan said this month only about half the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 77 CF18s are available for operations at any given time, not enough to meet Canada’s commitments to NATO and North American defence.
“Today, the number of mission-ready aircraft we can deploy on an average day is actually less than the number of planes we are committed to have ready,” he said as he reiterated the need to buy a replacement fighter jet quickly.
Conservative defence critic James Bezan said the CF18s’ involvement at RIMPAC is evidence the Liberals plan to buy a new plane without a competition.
“It proves the fact Canada can do not just our NORAD and NATO missions, but we can do these exercises as well,” he said. “Anything Minister Sajjan is saying now about a capability gap is a complete fabrication.”
The question of whether the military is really dealing with a shortage of fighter jets has become central to the debate that has raged for years over which aircraft Canada should buy to replace its aging CF-18s.
The Liberals promised during last year’s election they would hold an open competition to replace the CF-18s. But they also promised not to buy the F-35.
Postmedia reported in June Ottawa was considering whether to use an exemption in federal procurement laws to buy Super Hornets as an “interim” measure to fill the capability gap.