International
Some Companies Trying To Upset Canada's F-35 Purchase
Canada's Globe and Mail (6/8, Leblanc) reports, "Ottawa is moving on a sole-sourced purchase of high-tech U.S. fighter jets to replace its CF-18s despite furious last-minute lobbying by rival manufacturers." Canada is expected to approve the purchase of 65 Lockheed Martin F-35s. Since there was no competition for the order, it "hasn't stopped the manufacturers of jets such as Boeing's Super Hornet from trying to whip up a storm in Parliament and the defence community." According to the article, the "overarching theme among manufacturers is that they want to be able to participate in a competition, and that the government will get a better deal – and more regional industrial benefits spread out across Canada – if it opens up a tendering process."
