Comment on Canada tells Boeing its bid for fighter jet contract falls shortparentComments−dmoy4yThe plane being over budget for the US doesn't necessarily affect the unit cost going forward though.For a specific example here, the F-35, which costs more than the F-18, is still cheaper than the Gripen, which is still in contention for this bid.In fact of the three planes remaining, the F-18 was the cheapest. The only remaining planes are substantially more expensive.−mthoms4yAs I understand it, The Gripen has a much lower operating cost than the others [0].At any rate, I never said cost was the only factor - only that it was an important (read: non-arbitrary) one.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen#Usability_a...−sudosysgen4yThe F-35, if not localized, is slightly more expensive than a localized Gripen, yes. However it will cost much more to maintain in the future.−nickff4yMaintain, almost certainly, but sustainment costs could be higher for the Gripen. They’ve only made 270 Gripens, so any upgrades will be amortized over a smaller installed base.−sudosysgen4yI don't think that Canada will need or go for any updates beyond weapon integration anyways.−nickff4yThe CF-18 got two rounds of modernizations, so I’d assume any replacement that served for a similar period of time would get at least one.
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The plane being over budget for the US doesn't necessarily affect the unit cost going forward though.
For a specific example here, the F-35, which costs more than the F-18, is still cheaper than the Gripen, which is still in contention for this bid.
In fact of the three planes remaining, the F-18 was the cheapest. The only remaining planes are substantially more expensive.
As I understand it, The Gripen has a much lower operating cost than the others [0].
At any rate, I never said cost was the only factor - only that it was an important (read: non-arbitrary) one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen#Usability_a...
The F-35, if not localized, is slightly more expensive than a localized Gripen, yes. However it will cost much more to maintain in the future.
Maintain, almost certainly, but sustainment costs could be higher for the Gripen. They’ve only made 270 Gripens, so any upgrades will be amortized over a smaller installed base.
I don't think that Canada will need or go for any updates beyond weapon integration anyways.
The CF-18 got two rounds of modernizations, so I’d assume any replacement that served for a similar period of time would get at least one.