I'll start with the jets. We're hopefully down to the end game of the most recent round of trying to get new fighter aircraft. We're down to two choices that have very different types of capabilities. We'll have to see how that plays out and what the government ultimately wants to do with them.
One thing I would say, building on what Mr. Mulroney offered, is that I'd like us much more involved in that region of the world on a more consistent basis. It's a place that we tend to visit episodically. I don't know that we have spent enough time staying in the region and learning how to really operate and understand what's happening there.
With respect to the navy, the ships we are designing, our new surface combatants, are ships that are going to be very capable and very suited to that part of the world. If we're going to buy 15 of them, as is the current plan, that would see Canada effectively holding our weight class, if you will, for our navy in a way that a lot of our allies haven't. That's something to look forward to once those ships are delivered. It's the delivery time frame that I have more concern about.
On submarines, it's important for Canada to keep that particular capability. It's vital to being part of a modern naval force. Certainly, the Indo-Pacific region, with the proliferation of submarines over there, would be one area in particular that is leading to that demand for us to have a modern submarine program.
I'm happy to see that we're now looking into whether or not we're going to keep that. I hope that particular project goes ahead.