aesop081 said:
Allright folks, i figured i'd open myself to flaming. A while ago there were some people saying that some of us were afraid of making suggestions on what we saw as ideal force structure for the army so, staying in my lane, here's what i think for the air force. Feel free to question and pick apart as this is in no way perfect.
Fighter aviation:
Even with the current modernization, the CF-18A/B airframe is getting seriously old. I realize that Canada is , at first glance anyways, waiting for JSF to come to production but, IMHO, this is somewhat of a long way off and will be a very expensive option. I propose to replace the CF-18s sooner rather than later with the Eurofighter Typhoon or Dassault Raffale. personaly i favour the Raffale but since the Typhoon already has several custumers there could be economies of scale to be had there.
Fighter aviation would be concentrated around 4 Wing in Cold lake ( 416 & 441 sqn) and 3 Wing in Bagottville ( 425 & 433 sqn) and of course 410 sqn as the fighter OTU. Cold lake ( 410 sqn) would assume the duties of center-of-excellence for all fighter aviation in similar fashion to what the army is doing.
Maritime patrol
IMHO, the current incarnation of AIMP is a complete disaster. I feel that the CP-140 has to be replaced in the medium-to-long term. Prospective candidates include the US MMA and the British Nimrod MR.4. There are not very many options for replacements in this role. One option would be to seriously accelerate the AIMP program. 14 Wing Greenwood would be the COE for maritime aviation. 405,415 and 407 as the operational sqns and 404 as the OTU. MP&EU and 14 SES would remain in place to rpovide support the maritime patrol operational community.
Tactical airlift
I propose the replacement of CC-130 E/H employed in the TAL role with the C-130J for 429 & 436 sqn ( 8 wing trenton) and 435 sqn (17 wing Winnipeg).
Strategic airlift
I propose the purchase/lease of 6-8 C-17/A400M to be based at 8 Wing trenton ( 437 sqn)
Search and rescue
Purchase/lease 16 C-27 and equip 442(Comox), 413(Greenwood), 429(Trenton) and a new sqn in Winnipeg for the current "coast guard-type" SAR
Snowbirds
I would like to see the current aircraft replaced by Hawk ( lease or purchase)
Maritime hellicopters
Not to be marginalized, i would like to see the number of CH-148 purchased increased to 41 to compensate for long term attrition, maintenace and training.
Now for some other stuff:
1 Wing would lose 408, 427 and 430 qns as those would fall directly to the army brigades. They would remain air force, responsible directly to 1 CAD for the airworthiness of the aircraft and crew currency but would report directly to the brigade commanders for training and day to day operations. 1 wing would concentrate around 400, 438 and 403 sqns to provide CH-146 initial training, augmentation fro the line sqns and deployable capabilities for "air force only" ops. 1 Wing should also gain 2 to 3 sqn of medium lift helicopters based on the Merlin HC.1 ot S-92 to provide more robust support to the army.
I would also like to see the creation of 2 dedicated combat SAR ( CSAR) squadrons based in Both 3 & 4 wing equiped with Merlin HC.1 / S-92 with modifications similar to the MH-53E/HH-53. This would provided Canada with its own organic CSAR capabilities and would give of greater freedom of action during a crissis. Additionaly, 444 sqn, currently based at 5 wing Goose Bay would convert from the CH-146 to the new CSAR aircraft and move to cold lake to become the CSAR OTU after 5 wing closes.
Once a new strateic airlifter has entered service with 437 sqn, all of the CC-150 Polaris aircraft woud convert to full-time AAR and remain in trenton with that sqn.
In order to provide greater support the land operation i propose the establish a sqn ( 6 aircraft) whos role would be similar to what the E-8 JSTARS is doing for the USAF. As this aircraft is large and expensive, i propose to take a similar approach to what the UK Royal air force is doing. They have decided to put in service the Bombardier Sentinel R.1, the first deliveries of which will begin next year to RAF Waddington's 5 sqn. This would give the air force a true capability to support ISTAR for the army. This unti would be most likely based in trenton or Winnipeg.
I would also like to see the air force aquire an AWACS capability. I beleive that the E-3 is far too expensive for us so options would be the E-2C Hawkeye ( proven design) or even the Embraer 145 AEW&C which has proven itself rather surprizingly during exercises such as CRUZEX 2004. It is employed in that role by the Brazilian AF. We could even benefit by using the same airframe for bot JSTARS and AWACS role by going with Embrarer's entire ISR line based on the EMB 145 airframe. AWACs would operate out of Cold lake where it would be in a good position to work directly with the fighter community and participate in MAPLE FLAG.
Thats as far as my thinking gets me for now. Its a bit to ask but is more realistic for canada than some other options i have heard floating around.
Start flaming away troops......
Fighter Aviation
I'd designate the new JSF-B as the NEXT Canadian Fighter because I believe it will provide a significant dominance over any of the current alternatives available including: F-16 Block 60, F-18 E/F, Rafale or Typhoon. Short Version: I think it's worth the wait.
In the meantime, I'd identify the airframes in greatest need of refurbishment and set-up a line identical to the one being used by the US Navy for its "Center Barrel Replacement Plus Program" for its F-18 C/D's. The Americans I believe are forecasting their F-18 C/D fleet with this refurbishment to last past 2017.
In addition, I agree with the idea of downsizing squadron sizes as I don't see the likelihood of an airborne attack being high, but having a deterent in each area of the country (especially the north) seems absolutely necessary.
Lastly, the JSF-B would be my choice due to its abiltiy to operate off of LHD's (which I continue to believe MUST be part of our future navy - in particular I think the new Navantia design is just about perfect), or off rough runways should we deploy in areas with limited infrastructure.
Maritime Patrol/AWACS/JSTARS-equivalent/SAAR
Going to step outside the box for a moment on this one. I propose we explore the possibility of going to a single airframe for all these roles - specifically the Airbus A320 (CC-150). With that airframe add the Erieye radar system (as per 737 wedgetail), the Raytheon Raytheon ASARS-2 (from ASTOR) and the magnetic anomaly detectors/magnetic compensators (from the AIMP upgrade) to build one multipurpose surveillance platform. With this new fleet of 12-16 aircraft (and the matching SAAR assets) we should be able to provide excellent coverage of our coastal areas, the north, as well as full-spectrum analysis of any expeditionary areas we may deploy to.
Tactical/Strategic Lift
I continue to argue since the C-130 cannot lift our primary land warfare system, it has outlasted its usefulness unless we start re-design all our ground units into light infantry that are going to be specifically restricted to allow for C-130 deployment.
Since I believe that would be insane and assume the we will to continue to use the LAV-III as the basis of our ground forces in my mind that justifies the transition to a different class of aircraft. That leaves only two choices: C-17 or A400M. Based on its track record I would lean towards a C-17/C-27 mix however since we are still years away from redesigned land force, we probably have the luxury to wait for the A400M if we can work an economic deal similar to what was done with Sikorsky at which point I would propose we move to an all A400M force.
Search and Rescue
Based on the comments here and elsewhere, it appears the C-27J is a no-brainer. My only change with what aesop said, was again for political reasons, I would be building bases in the North
now. Specifically, I would look at a building a series of small northern bases (Resolute, Holman, Kugluktuk, Pond Inlet, Clyde River, etc.) with a combination of JORN Radars and runways for C-27J. I would also build two larger bases (one at Iqalut and the other at Inuvik) with the objective of maintaining full-time AIMP's and eventually JSF-C/A320 multi-role aircraft.
Snowbirds
Hawk makes the most sense due to low cost operation.
Maritime Helicopters
Agree with the increase in numbers and again would at least have a seasonal deployment to a new Northern Base.
New Medium Lift Helicopter + CSAR
Makes sense to me. Using the Cyclone as the base considering we're building them here makes further sense. Designing them to operate off our JSS ship, with recovery by current/future frigates, destroyers makes further sense. Keeping a single platform with one engine type to simplify supply/logistics for all expeditionary deployed helicopters seems smarter still.
Other Stuff
I remain a proponent of long endurance unarmed UAV's remaining over deployed battlegroups at all times with the ability to provide surveillance and targeting information to ground-based firing systems such as GPS-guided 120mm mortar, 155mm artillery and HIMARS.
That's the end of my brain cell tonight....off to the bar.
Cheers all...
Matthew.
P.S. As a side note, it would also be worthwhile to begin planning for naval bases to control the Beaufort Sea and Hudson Straits as well...