New jets could trigger 'Arctic arms race'

Expert concerned over F-35 purchase

JULIET O'NEILL, POSTMEDIA NEWS, OCTOBER 29, 2010

A government purchase of F-35 fighter jets could cause "angst in Russia" and trigger an Arctic arms race, Arctic sovereignty expert Michael Byers said Thursday.

"I don't want my country to be the country that starts an Arctic arms race," Byers said as debate over the government's plan to spend $16 billion on 65 of the F-35s raged on several fronts on Parliament Hill.

Byers is chair in global politics and international law at the University of British Columbia. He said there is no need for stealth "shock and awe" military aircraft in the North and senior U.S. military officials have contradicted Canadian government claims of threats from aging Russian bombers near Canadian airspace. What is needed up North, he emphasized, is search-and-rescue planes.

Air force chief Lt.-Gen. André Deschamps told the House of Commons defence committee that Russia is already building a "fifth-generation" fighter -- which is what the F-35 is -- and that China is expected to build one too. If the planned purchase is cancelled, he told MPs, Canada's air force would become "irrelevant" for defence missions with the United States and other countries in the NATO military alliance, many of whom are also buying the F-35.

Deschamps was responding to Conservative MPs' attempts to undermine Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff's announcement Wednesday that he would cancel the project and hold a competition for a jet to replace Canada's aging CF-18 fleet.

Auditor General Sheila Fraser told the House of Commons public accounts committee that the military and government spending authorities will have to properly assess risks, requirements and the range of costs for operating and maintaining the F-35s.

For the full text, see: News jets could trigger 'Arctic arms race'

Comments

[CWO]

1. Russia is a 'Big Boy'! The possible Canadian purchase of F-35s to replace its current fleet of F-18s shouldn't be made just because Russia would get spooked. Seriously? Looking out for the 'feelings' of a nation that is currently modernizing its forces with new strategic nuclear missles and PAK-FA 5th gen. fighters really dosn't top my list of concerns.

2. Canada just lost a seat at the UN SC to Portugal! What would make anyone believe that Canada can start something internationally - especially an arms race!?

3. Totally agree that Canada needs NOT just SAR planes but also a good look at the SAR capability as a whole in Canada and the North.

4. Although there may be no need for 'shock and awe' military aircraft in the North it dosn't discount the probablity that Canada may want to step up and join its allies (i.e. America) in the future where such aircraft are needed? One only has to remind the reader that as allies such as the UK start chopping their air and sea fleets the burden of international security only deepens for our allies south of the border.

If Canada wants a seat on the international stage - maybe it would be a good idea that we put our money where our mouths are?

[Jack Napiare]

No real danger here.