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Such scenarios…in turn lead to a list of what DND calls “High Level Mandatory Capabilities,” a series of operational characteristics or capabilities that it says the next fighter aircraft must possess to meet all contingencies. There are at least eleven such features, eight of which, says DND, can be met by “fourth generation aircraft,” like the current CF-18:
* Range: A specific range is not mentioned, but it “must be capable of flying long distances” without air-to-air refuelling;
* Air-to-air refuelling: In-flight refuelling is nevertheless required to extend that range in certain instances;
* Speed: Again, no specifics, except to say that it must be capable of intercepting other fighter and bomber aircraft;
* Endurance: Must be capable of “combat air patrol” within “a range of geographical locations”;
* Deployable: Similarly it must be capable of being deployed globally “in a full range of geographic, environmental, climatic and threat conditions”;
* Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance: The new fighter is to have “superior” capability in each of these “during and following the deployment of weapons”;
* Weapons: It must be capable of firing a “range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons in all weather conditions, day and night, in threatening and non-threatening environments”;
* Growth potential: It must be capable of receiving upgrades to enhance operation capabilities, as well as survivability and interoperability.
But there are three additional characteristics, says DND, which can be met only by fifth generation fighters, i.e. the F-35:
* Survivability: “The aircraft must be capable of defending itself and its crew by employing a range of self-defence technologies and minimizing the risk of detection, engagement and damage in threatening environments” – meaning stealth.
* Interoperability: “The aircraft must be capable of effectively operating in joint (land, sea and aerospace) and combined environments with Canada’s allies.”
* Sensors and Data Fusion: “The aircraft must be capable of accurately detecting, tracking, identifying, prioritizing, engaging and assessing a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface contacts in all weather conditions, day and night, in permissive and non-permissive environments.”..