Canadians could soon know the government’s plan to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s aging CF-18 fighter jets.
Cabinet is expected to consider three options on Tuesday: choose a permanent replacement fleet, go ahead with an open competition, or purchase some of Boeing’s Super Hornets as an interim stopgap until a final decision is made.
Multiple sources told CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson the Liberals are most likely to approve the purchase of some Super Hornets now as a stopgap, if approved by Cabinet.
There is precedent: Australia has purchased 24 Super Hornets while it awaits delayed F-35s.
The Liberals campaigned on a pledge to buy less expensive aircraft than F-35s and use the savings to rebuild the navy. But since the election there has been a lack of clarity over whether the F-35s are still in the running.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said last December that the F-35 would not be excluded from the competition.
However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sounded skeptical about the F-35 in June when he said the plane "does not work and is far from working."
Conservative defence critic James Bezan said in daily question period in the House of Commons Monday that the Liberals should stick to their promise to hold an open competition.
Purchasing Super Hornets without a competition would "be foolishly putting billions of taxpayer money at risk," he said.
Sajjan responded that the government had done "a considerable amount of work" on the file, adding: "We will make a decision on replacing the fighters and will pick a process that will meet the needs of Canada."
The Conservatives decided to purchase the F-35s in 2010. Prime Minister Stephen Harper faced calls to resign two years later, after the auditor general slammed the mounting costs and questionable procurement process.
With files from The Canadian Press
