Lankan Ranger
ELITE MEMBER
US & Canada review defence co-operation
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates met with Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKay on 27 January in Ottawa.
Discussions focused on US-Canadian defence issues and areas of co-operation, including their mutual efforts in Afghanistan and procurement of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Canada is expected to buy 65 F-35s to replace its fourth-generation CF-18 Hornet aircraft, which are expected to be retired between 2017 and 2020.
However, Canada's Liberal party, the official opposition, has recently called on the country to review its participation in the international JSF programme as defence budgets are constricting worldwide.
Gates expressed confidence in the F-35 programme and said the Pentagon was working with contractor Lockheed Martin to drive down the aircraft's cost. "Without getting into domestic affairs in Canada, I would just say that my hope is ... that all of our partners continue to move forward with us on this programme," he said.
http://www..com/products//defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065928906
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates met with Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKay on 27 January in Ottawa.
Discussions focused on US-Canadian defence issues and areas of co-operation, including their mutual efforts in Afghanistan and procurement of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Canada is expected to buy 65 F-35s to replace its fourth-generation CF-18 Hornet aircraft, which are expected to be retired between 2017 and 2020.
However, Canada's Liberal party, the official opposition, has recently called on the country to review its participation in the international JSF programme as defence budgets are constricting worldwide.
Gates expressed confidence in the F-35 programme and said the Pentagon was working with contractor Lockheed Martin to drive down the aircraft's cost. "Without getting into domestic affairs in Canada, I would just say that my hope is ... that all of our partners continue to move forward with us on this programme," he said.
http://www..com/products//defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065928906