National Defence committee  I would be pleased to do so. If I understand your question correctly, you're asking if a single-engine fighter is as safe as a twin-engine fighter. Of course, when you have two, it's always better than one. However, the manner in which we now understand the technology--the mater

National Defence committee  We are not here to question the airframe competition. This is the government's decision. The customer is always right. Once the customer has made a decision, we move on.

National Defence committee  The terms and conditions have yet to be negotiated, but obviously there are discussions between the Government of Israel and the Government of the United States regarding the F-35, and I would propose that this is a question you must ask of the U.S. government.

National Defence committee  That is correct. I apologize.

National Defence committee  That's absolutely correct.

National Defence committee  That is correct.

National Defence committee  That is correct.

National Defence committee  We have, Mr. Hawn.

National Defence committee  Well, I could ask you the same question, but from a 180-degree--

National Defence committee  Yes. Well, we will then be sharpening our pencils and we will make a finer point than the competitor. So the answer is, it will depend on the terms that we will be offering Canada. We want to win, so we will play it very tightly to our vests, and then may the best win. We are kee

National Defence committee  Well, the world of the engine is slightly different. We definitely have Canadian high-end, internationally competitive Canadian suppliers on the team now. They will likely remain on the team, although you know very well that the manner in which the program has been developed with

National Defence committee  We have colleagues who are in Washington as we have colleagues in all the eight partner countries. It's obviously a U.S. budgetary issue. There are obviously political discussions at play. There are clearly short-term fiscal imperatives that the government is attempting to choose

National Defence committee  That is correct. I am talking of the Washington scene. Yes, there are differences in position between the DOD and the U.S. Congress, and it's an ever-evolving process.

National Defence committee  The engine is government-furnished material. The cost of the engine will be determined by the joint project office and the price will be given to the Department of National Defence. I'd like to make this distinction. Regarding competition, absolutely. There are other issues tha

National Defence committee  The program funding is definitely funding from the American Department of Defense. That department has not included funding for that program in its budget. In past years, each time the budgets were re-examined, the American Congress would add supplementary funding in order to f