Video of press conference, carried live on Global TV on April 25, 2012 (Ottawa)
The federal government may not be making the correct choice by replacing Canada’s CF-18 fleet with the F-35, warned the Royal Canadian Air Force’s former CF-18 fleet manager at a press conference in Ottawa.
“As an aerospace engineer and former manager of Canada’s fleet of CF-18s, when I see the term ‘development’ used in the F-35 procurement, I know the government is facing significant performance risks, headaches and much higher costs than anticipated,” said Colonel Paul Maillet (ret.)
Colonel Maillet had a distinguished 33-year career in the military, managing several Major Crown Projects (valued over $100 million). An aerospace engineer, he began working on the CF-18s upon their delivery to Canada in 1984, and progressed to a headquarters appointment as the CF-18 fleet manager in 1996.