Canadian defense minister Peter MacKay last week underscored Canada’s commitment to the F-35 strike fighter and the need for timely procurement of the stealth aircraft. “It’s clear that it’s the intention of the government of Canada to proceed with the purchase. This is a solid decision,” said MacKay during a press conference with Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Ottawa during Gates’ official Canada visit. Last July, the Canadian government announced its intent to procure 65 F-35s to replace its aging CF-18s. Responding to calls by Canada’s Liberal Party to cancel those plans, MacKay voiced fears that “in addition to losing a preferential place in the production line,” Canada would face an “operational gap” as the CF-18s reach the end of their service lives. “There is a very . . . sweet spot in terms of the delivery time,” he noted during the Jan. 27 briefing. (Gates-MacKay transcript)
The Pentagon’s new counter-drone task force will play a direct role in arming Airmen with new weapons to defend Air Force agile combat employment, or ACE, air bases in austere locations against enemy drone attacks, the director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 said Oct. 14.
