TECHNOLOGY DND photo The 20th anniversary of the CF-18 Hornet occurred in 2002. In 2017, it will have served Canada for 35 years, and will thus be one of the oldest serving fighter aircraft in the world. REPLACING THE CF-18 HORNET: UNMANNED COMBAT AERIAL VEHICLE OR JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER? by Lieutenant-Colonel Carl Doyon, CD “[We must be] guided by new fiscal, technological In June 2003, Thierry Gongora, a Department of and strategic realities” National Defence analyst, published a paper in which he presented a dozen options that the government could – The Honourable John McCallum, consider in replacing the CF-18.2 Gongora concluded: 2003-2004 Report on Plans and Priorities “We cannot assume that the follow-on system needs to be necessarily another multi-role fighter... We can The Available Choices no longer assume that the only viable alternative to a manned multi-role fighter is another one.”3 Elinor Sloan, n May 2001, Art Eggleton, at the time Canada’s Minister a professor attached to the National Defence Headquarters I of National Defence, announced a $1.2-billion program to Directorate of Strategic Analysis, observes in a report, modernize the avionics of the CF-18 and thus to prolong its “It may make more sense for the Air Force to focus useful life until 2017-2020. This measure effectively delayed on... stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles, the difficult decision with respect to replacing the aircraft. which might better be able to carry out many of the According to Jason Kirby, an editor at Canadian Business: missions currently performed by tactical air forces.”4 “DND insiders... say it’s not a question of which plane There is no doubt that factors such as Canadian Canada will buy, but what role Canada wants to play in the sovereignty, the capabilities that the government is ready world. Will it fight wars or keep the peace?”1 Will it decide to to devote to Canada’s defence, Canada’s commitments replace the CF-18 with another combat aircraft such as the and the presence it wishes to maintain in the world, as Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) or will it completely eliminate this well as available choices and resources, will all be operational capability? Will Canada leave it exclusively up to determining factors in the decision. the United States to ensure its protection, especially since the Americans seem resolved to extend their security perimeter to include all of North America? Or will Canada decide to Lieutenant-Colonel Doyon is an aerospace engineer and invest in a less expensive but new technology, the Unmanned Commanding Officer of 3 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV)? at 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec. Spring 2005 ● Canadian Military Journal 33 In the 2003-2004 Report on Defence Plans and Priorities, John McCallum, then Minister of National Defence, remarked: “We can no longer afford to invest equally in the capabilities or structures of the past.”5 He added: “That means being guided by new fiscal, technological and strategic realities to make selective, strategic choices on what capabilities we will invest in, what new concepts and capabilities we will pursue or ignore and what old capabilities we will maintain, reduce or eliminate.”6 All in all, while attaining its objectives, the government is leaving the door open to the study of new technologies that http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/x-45-pics.htm could enable it to maximize returns on its investment in defence. The literature The Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) X-45A made its maiden flight on 22 May 2002. is currently almost silent on questions regarding the replacement of the CF-18, but it is now The government therefore considers that it has an ongoing time for this subject to be rigorously debated. From interest in maintaining combat-ready multi-role forces. this perspective, this article will attempt to demonstrate The tragic events of 11 September 2001 in the United States that, when the CF-18 has come to the end of its useful provide eloquent witness to the unforeseeable nature of life, forecast to be between 2017 and 2020, it is not threats and the need to maintain an air force that is certain that Canada will replace its fleet with another viable and capable of defending national and international combat aircraft such as the JSF because the UCAV interests. The usefulness of such an operational capability is will have reached a state of development that could make therefore not called into question, nor is Canada’s will to it a more competitive choice. After explaining the need maintain such a force. The challenge will be to replace this for an air combat capability, this article will analyze three force with limited resources. With respect to the replacement options that could be at the core of the coming debate. of the CF-18, do we absolutely have to acquire another In the first option, the government would decide to conclude traditional combat aircraft, or is it possible to find a solution an agreement with the United States for them to assume, that is as effective and less costly? from their own stocks of equipment and personnel, the duties now performed by the CF-18 and thereby assure Canada’s First Option: Entrust the Protection of Canada aerial protection. A second option would consist of investing to the United States in a new technology such as the UCAV. The final option entertained would be to replace the CF-18 with another his solution would consist of concluding an agreement conventional, manned combat aircraft. Finally, this article T with the United States whereby their forces would fill will briefly compare the JSF and the UCAV since they the role of the CF-18. A nation may conclude agreements represent, in this writer’s view, the two most promising with other nations to defend common interests, as is the equipment options for the future. case with the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) the Canadian-American agreement that, since The Need for an Air Combat Capability its creation in 1958, has been the core of Canada’s capability to defend its airspace against any potential aggression. hence the need for air combat capability? Why not Leaving this mandate to the United States would maximize W simply do without it completely? First of all, the the use of American infrastructures and air resources, operational capability procured by a combat aircraft and this could produce economies of scale. The cost of such as the CF-18 has always been associated with defence would therefore be less, an eventuality that would defending the country. Also, as Canada’s foreign policy be in Canada’s best interest. However, such a measure bears witness, security and stability in the world are would weigh heavily against the need to maintain forces prior conditions for the country’s growth and economic capable of having our national laws respected and of development. It is clear that Canada has an interest “in doing exercising control over our national air space. Furthermore, its part to ensure global security, especially since Canada’s it would be difficult to entrust the maintenance of this economic future depends on its ability to trade freely with airspace to another government without placing our other nations.”7 And finally, as the 1994 White Paper on sovereignty in question. As Colonel Paul Black, president Defence clearly indicates, a country “cannot dispense with of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, remarked: the ...air combat capabilities of modern armed forces.”8 “How Canada defends its territory and its domestic interests 34 Canadian Military Journal ● Spring 2005 is an important element in how other nations relate to peacekeeping to regional wars.”15 According to extensive Canada. A ‘strong’ Canada, with an efficient military, research carried out to date, including that of Elinor Sloan, secures a measure of respect from other nations.”9 “many military experts predict a long-term move away from What is more, the 1994 White Paper on Defence maintains manned fighters and toward unmanned combat.”16 that “Canada should never find itself in a position where the defence of its national territory has become the As Sloan remarks: “As a means of bridging the gap responsibility of others.”10 As the working group that before its stealth UCAV can be fielded, the U.S. Air Force studied the repercussions of the Revolution in Military (USAF) has armed some of its Predator UAVs with precision Affairs (RMA) upon Canadian defence beyond the weapons.”17 In 2001, the Predator had to its credit a dozen year 2010 noted: “The armed forces are the ultimate recourse air-to-ground attacks in Afghanistan, where its effectiveness the country has to defend its interests, on its territory was nearly perfect.18 The same type of aircraft was used TECHNOLOGY and abroad. They must therefore be in a position to by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Yemen on apply significant combat strength when it is asked 4 November 2002 in an attack on six members of Al-Qaeda. of them.”11 As well, in a survey by the Department of These individuals were headed for an unknown destination National Defence conducted in the fall of 2001, 93 per cent when the CIA, discovering their vehicle, launched a Hellfire of Canadians polled considered it important to defend missile that killed the six alleged terrorists on the spot. Canadian sovereignty, and 83 per cent considered it One of them was Ali Qaed Senyan al-Harethi, suspected of important to maintain the capability of conducting combat being the author of the attack against the American destroyer operations alongside our NATO allies, in order to ensure USS Cole in Yemen in October 2000.19 Since August 2003, peace and security in the world.12 despite difficulties of adaptation, the Canadian Army has used a remote-controlled Sperwer-type aircraft to assist its Under these conditions, the option of entrusting the land forces deployed in Afghanistan.