Canada May Favor F-35, Superhornet Over Rafale, Typhoon

Canada likely to choose from Lockheed Martin F-35 and Boeing Superhornet over Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassualt Rafale for its new fleet of jet fighters, Reuters reported quoting an unnamed source.

F-35 stealth fighter and F-18 E/F Super Hornet were deemed more suitable for the variety of tasks the military has laid out; Reuters quoted an unnamed source as saying.

While the F-35 had scored well on the various tests laid out by the military, the Super Hornet was almost as capable and had the advantage of being cheaper, the source added.

The choice would mean the elimination of Dassault Aviation SA's Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly made by BAE Systems PLC, Finmeccanica SpA and Airbus Group NV.

The fighter selection has proven enormously problematic for Canada's Conservative government, which in 2012 scrapped a sole-sourced plan to buy 65 F-35s for $8.3 billion after a parliamentary watchdog savaged the decision.

Ottawa is deciding whether to hold a competition or go ahead with the initial plan to buy F-35s, which could prompt accusations that it was acting in bad faith.

“Further delays in a Canadian decision could push any possible order beyond the order window that Boeing would need to maintain the Super Hornet line, now slated to close in 2017. Even if you choose not to decide, you have still made a choice,” Richard Aboulafia, analyst with Virginia-based Teal Group told Reuters.