History repeats itself with fighter-jet fiasco

Re: “Liberals’ fighter jet plan under watchdog’s probe,” Nov. 20. The procurement fiasco of the Sea King helicopter replacement is being repeated with the CF-18 aircraft replacement.

In 1987, the government announced the purchase of EH-101 helicopters to replace the Sea Kings, and in 1993, following a change of government, the order was cancelled, resulting in $500 million in cancellation fees. Many years later and many issues resolved, the Cyclones have started to be delivered.

The fighter-jet replacement process is a repeat performance.

The procurement process to replace the CF-18s was started in 1997. Today, still no jets, not even a choice as to which aircraft will be procured.

In 2010, the government announced it intended to procure F-35s to replace the CF-18s, and in 2015, following a change of government, it was decided not to buy the F-35.

As an interim measure, the government decided to buy 18 used Australian F-18 aircraft, for $500 million, to keep our own fleet of similar aircraft flying until a full competition can be held.

Still no decision regarding which aircraft will be procured, and yet over the past 20 years, governments have spent more than $500 million for the development of the F-35. Should the replacement jets not be the F-35, Canada would have nothing to show for all that money.

It is indeed a rerun of Canada’s defence-procurement ineptness, at great costs, with billions of tax dollars wasted. Roger Cyr Victoria