OTTAWA (CP) - Despite the misgivings of some allies, the federal government is spending an additional half-billion dollars for the final development of the Joint Strike Fighter, a stealth jet meant to replace Canada's aging CF-18s. A memorandum of understanding was signed with little fanfare this week between the Pentagon and the Canadian Defence Department, even as an Australian parliamentary report questioned the international program.
Deputy Defence Minister Ward Elcock signed on behalf of Canada, committing the federal government to continue funding research and production of the advanced warplane.
The agreement also spells out Ottawa's intention to purchase as many as 80 of the single-seat, single-engine F-35 aircraft when the CF-18s, recently given life extensions, are retired in 2017.
"We are convinced the (new) aircraft is going to be a technological marvel," said Michael Slack, the Defence Department's director of the Joint Strike Fighter program.
"It is going to be an incredibly good airplane that will meet a whole range of operational requirements. It will be technologically superior to probably everything else that's out there."
Slack's glowing assessment is tempered by a report presented to Australia's Parliament, which questions whether the new warplane will live up to defence industry hype.
"Several questions remain about the wisdom of committing to the JSF so early in the project's development," said a June 9, 2006, research note, which evaluated Australia's participation in the US$276-billion program.
"Such questions focus on the eventual cost of the aircraft and whether it represents value for money, whether advances in unmanned systems make it obsolete before it enters service" and whether all of the partners will remain committed.
The former Chretien government initially signed Canada on to the program in 2001, joining the U.S., Australia, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Ottawa's latest $500-million contribution is on top of the $160 million the country has already contributed to the initial research that went into the F-35, christened the Lightning II.
Even after the hefty development costs, the federal government will still be required to spend between $43 million and $63 million for each new aircraft, depending upon the model.
There are three different versions of the aircraft, a conventional one that uses a full-length runway, another designed to operate off aircraft carriers and a final type that takes off and lands vertically like the British Harrier jet.
Slack said the agreement signed Monday does not commit the government to actually purchasing the Lightning, it just ensures the option is available.
"If we determine in the future we no longer require a manned tactical fighter . . . why would we remain in the program?" he asked rhetorically.
Aside from securing Canada's place in the production line, the development funds guarantee Canadian companies get access to research contracts let by the prime contractor, U.S. defence giant Lockheed- Martin. To date, 54 Canadian companies, universities and research institutions have won 154 contracts, valued at approximately $157 million.
Australia, which had publicly said itr
