National Defence Committee on Nov. 4th, 2010

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mister Mathews, would you contend that the Super Hornet has a fighting chance in a simulated one-on-one dogfight. What is the probability of it knocking out a Joint Strike Fighter?

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Briefly. You have the floor.

[Kory G. Mathews]

It would be inappropriate for me to talk about Super Hornet in a dogfight with an F-35. Sir, I would not be able to go there.

What I can say, however, and once again, as I shared in response to one of the initial questions, is the United States Navy has the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet side by side with the F-35 past 2035 or 2040. They have designed-in current capabilities as well as future capabilities to defeat current and future threats. So I'm confident in this weapon system's performance. But again, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on a Super Hornet in a dogfight with an F-35, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mathews.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Harris.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Mathews, for your presentation.

I was interested in this notion of fifth generation as well. It seems to be a label that's put on only a couple of airplanes. In fact the decision-making seems to be around the fact that the F-35 is the only fifth-generation aircraft available to Canada, and therefore we need it.

I'm looking at the capabilities as well, the high-level mandatory capabilities, and I think you have affirmed that your company can meet any of those in terms of range, speed, and the capability to deal with NORAD and NATO configurations. Is there any difference between the F-35 and Hornet in terms of the purpose for which this plane is built? Someone has suggested that the F-35 is a particular type of niche aircraft to go in and do ground damage after the sort of first day strike. On the other hand, our air force people have told us that this is a multi-use jet. What is the difference between a Hornet and an F-35? And I'm assuming you know the capabilities of the F-35 very well, being a competitor.

[Kory G. Mathews]

Let me start with the capabilities of the Super Hornet. If you look at what it is tasked to do today and in the future, it is the United States Navy's multi-role fighter. It does everything from precision ground attack to air-to-air superiority. With the EA-18G electronic attack, it does close air support, and as the navy operates today, the Super Hornet even operates as a tanker, refuelling other Super Hornets and other legacy Hornets.

As you look at the capabilities necessary to meet that variety of missions, I would highlight a couple. First is survivability. As I shared at the outset, the navy constructed the Super Hornet program and rolled this aircraft out in 2006 with designed-in stealth, enhanced situational awareness, full manoeuvrability, and reduced vulnerability as an approach to ensuring long-term survivability.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Let me interrupt you. I realize you're proud of your aircraft and its abilities, but we're more interested in focusing on the decision-making and how your company was included in that, and if you could have pointed out some difference it might have been helpful.

There's a suggestion.... You said that the Canadian government did speak to you at the end of 2008 and early 2009. Did you have any expectation that there would be ongoing discussions and further information to be provided to the Government of Canada before any decision was made?

[Kory G. Mathews]

That would have been our expectation. Yes, sir.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Were you told that?

[Kory G. Mathews]

Sir, I cannot attest to that first-hand. I do not know.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

You're telling us, first of all, that you're satisfied your company can do all those things outlined in the portions of the statement of requirements that have been made available to us. I assume that if you had discussions, you'd be aware of other requirements that the Canadian government may have that you may or may not be able to meet.

[Kory G. Mathews]

Not to our knowledge, sir. Certainly in any process, requirements would be derived from high-level mandatory capabilities. We don't have any insight into those requirements, so I am only addressing the high-level mandatory capabilities that we saw outlined in the document as well as in testimony.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I can only assume, from what you've told us today, that you don't believe your company has had a fair crack at this project. Is that correct?

[Kory G. Mathews]

Sir, we're not going to be here today and be critical of any process that has gone on. That would not be our reason for being here.

What I can offer up is that if there has been an assessment, in my opinion the full complement of information needed to make an accurate assessment was not provided.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

So you don't feel you were given an opportunity to give the full level of information that's required for a proper assessment to be made.

[Kory G. Mathews]

Sir, as I shared, I know that the information has not been provided. Yes, sir.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

You said that the Super Hornet, so far, has been sold to the Australian Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Is that it so far?

[Kory G. Mathews]

Yes, sir, that is correct at this time.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

What can you say about production capabilities? There was a lot of talk about the F-35 production line being up and running and having the capability of keeping it in production for up to 35 years. How does that compare with your capabilities as a manufacturer?

[Kory G. Mathews]

As I shared, the recently signed third multi-year procurement contract carries production out past 2015. Given the opportunities for further domestic needs as well as the robust interest internationally, I would stand here today as the F-18 program manager feeling extremely confident that we will be in production well past 2020.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Do I have more time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

No, you have no more time. Thank you, Mr. Harris.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

My timing was good, then. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

I give the floor to Mr. Hawn.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Mathews, for coming.

I have a few questions. You talked about visits by Canadian officials or the opportunity to talk to Canadian officials. I believe there were visits in July 2005, January 2008, February 2008, and September 2008 by Canadian officials down to the United States, either to St. Louis or to PMA-265 in Washington. Were you aware of those visits?