National Defence committee  Yes, sir.

National Defence committee  Sir, I would prefer to answer that by saying the life cycle cost is so dependent on specific detailed requirements, specific detailed assumptions. So I would respectfully request that to provide a true apples-to-apples comparison on that, there would need to be a specific dialogue: “Here is exactly what we would ask for you to price from an overall in-service support contract and the incumbent life cycle cost of that”.

National Defence committee  Again, it would probably be better answered by the United States Navy, but I would answer here in front of this committee today that yes, sir, we would look forward to those opportunities in a competitive process.

National Defence committee  Again, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on a specific number provided by F-35 void of all the detailed assumptions that go into that, because life cycle cost analysis is a complex activity. What I can talk about, however, sir, is the tremendous reliability, maintainability, and supportability of the F-18E/F Super Hornet.

National Defence committee  It would be better to go through the United States Navy for a request like that, sir. They can provide either what was provided back in 2008, which again was based on multi-year two pricing, not capturing the benefit of multi-year three and the approximately 10% savings on the third multi-year pricing.

National Defence committee  Depending on what would be required by the Canadian Air Force, any pricing would need to be holistic in nature, yes, sir.

National Defence committee  Sir, I'm not aware of the exact number. We can provide that data for the record. I know there have been several trips up here, I believe most recently in April of this year, when then program manager Mr. Bob Gower had a brief briefing with Lieutenant-General Deschamps.

National Defence committee  As questions are asked or informal dialogues take place—all of which would be preliminary in nature—yes, sir, I'm sure those would occur.

National Defence committee  Sir, I am not aware of that, no, sir.

National Defence committee  Yes, sir, they did.

National Defence committee  Sir, as I shared before, this forum would not allow me to get into the specific level of detail required. What I would offer up, sir, going back to your original line of questioning, is that there has certainly been an ongoing dialogue. Most of that subsided in the 2009 timeframe.

National Defence committee  Sir, I would not say that. It would be inappropriate for me to do so. What I can offer up to you today again, sir, is that any specific assessments that have gone on for this fighter, the next-generation fighter, have been void of the full complement of information. Should there be a competition—and again, that is not our decision, nor are we here to advocate for it—we would look forward to and be honoured to submit this weapon system in that competition, as it is our understanding that, with its top-level listing of high-level mandatory capabilities, it would be ideally suited for that, sir.

National Defence committee  Absolutely, sir. But I would respectfully say that the point I would be trying to bring up is that void of having any insight into those specific levels of requirements, this discussion is around those high-level mandatory capabilities.

National Defence committee  If I may answer that, sir, I don't think deficient at all. Again, sir, F-35 does not replace the Super Hornet. Those two platforms are side by side on the carrier deck, and if you look at numbers on the carrier deck, it's a two-to-one ratio, with two Super Hornets per F-35, well out past 2035 or 2040.

National Defence committee  Yes, sir, I was aware of the pricing and availability and the content therein. Typically, those are broken out separately. That was before I was on the program, but I am assuming they ran that traditional process, yes, sir.