OTTAWA, Ont. — Procurement Canada has provided aerospace firms a new draft version of the bid package for Canada’s next generation fighter jet fleet.
Some changes have been made to deal with concerns raised by the companies, according to federal government sources.
The requirements for the new Canadian fighter jet originally put emphasis on strategic attack and striking at ground targets during foreign missions, according to federal government procurement documents obtained by Postmedia.
While the Liberal government had been highlighting the need to buy the jets to protect Canadian airspace and meet the country’s commitments to the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defence Command, the procurement criteria provided additional weight to those aircraft that can excel at ground attack for overseas operations.
That criteria was seen to favour Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth jet, say those industry representatives allied with Lockheed’s rivals in the upcoming $19 billion competition. The evaluation criteria also had less emphasis on sustainability, another plus for the F-35 which has been dogged with high maintenance bills, they added.
The latest version of the requirements now eases back somewhat on the ground attack role and puts a little more emphasis on air-to-air scenarios, say sources.
Some changes have also been made to provide for more points to companies who can provide a better deal on sustainment of the aircraft.
Another change affects the length of time a firm has to meet its industrial benefits associated with its proposal. That has increased from 20 years to 25 years.
Pat Finn, the Department of National Defence’s procurement chief, has said he wants the final request for proposals for the fighter jets out to industry by mid-July.
At this point four aircraft are to be considered. Those include two U.S.-built aircraft, the F-35, and the Super Hornet, and two European planes, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Gripen.
The winning bidder will build 88 jets for Canada.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
