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Ahh, yes, one of the (several) old cranks that also made the Halifax forum on SkyscraperPage unbearable.

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No we won't. Bombardier replaced IMP in Saab's revised pitch.

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With the US being such a major player, it's incredibly difficult, time consuming, and expensive to remove them from the equation altogether (not saying we shouldn't do it, just be prepared for the time and cost). Even the Gripen relies on American engines.

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Anyway one thing I really try to impress upon people is just how entangled the western defence industry really is. The bigger, more complex a system (or, more accurately system of systems like an AFV/ship/aircraft), the more likely it becomes a multi-company, multi-country endeavour.

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Not that simple. You're forgetting that the Type 26 was built around the Mk.41 VLS (and its ecosystem), and is one of the few things all variants will have in common (along with the main gun now that we've switched back).

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As far as advanced drones replacing aircraft, we're still a generation or two out. Canada is already trying to integrate into the Tempest/GCAP program for our next manned fighter following the F-35 (and/or Gripen).

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As for drones, they're definitely going to be a significant factor, but the degree to which they'll change things is often overstated. There's always a degree of disruption followed by adaptation. Attack and defence. We're only starting to see the defence half of the equation develop.

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If you only build for peacetime, you'll be completely unprepared for an actual conflict. You can't pivot and acquire/produce modern equipment on a dime. Most NATO and peer countries are moving toward stealth platforms in this generation or the next.

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Stealth, for the time being, is a significant advantage against near-peer and a necessity against peers in any potential high intensity conflict, and offers an additional safety margin in those ground support roles.

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It's also not the kind of thing you can get away with often against a prepared/competent foe. Stealth has far more applications.

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While I am also a general F-35 skeptic, and think the shelf life on 'stealth' is limited, this isn't a fair comparison. Flying below radar level (what the Iranians did) is a very old tactic and places a lot of limitations on what can be done.

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Otherwise the issues are down to a push-pull with the military itself (they still often want what the US is offering), and project inertia (these things take years or decades in many cases) so we're still going to see US stuff come through just because the ball started rolling years ago.

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As far as the rest goes... Yeah, there's already a push from the top level to move away as much as possible. See our participation in Freyja, for example. And despite opting for German subs, there's still a lot of interest in Korean (and a growing interest in Japanese) systems.

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The Australians also dropped it. The only real bespoke US system we're using is the radar (Aegis is a major US system, but the Australians are also adding it to their Type 26s). There really is no common configuration now. It's too late to change much for the initial batch. Maybe for tte next batch.

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Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Re: the River-class - we largely have gone back to what the others are using. If anything that's pivoted them back toward being even more American (we were the only ones that opted for Italian guns, and there were integration issues). The only major weapon system we dropped was the CAMM/SeaCeptor...

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It'd have been nice if the trees planted there had been given an opportunity to live, but this would be a more people and plow survivable option. That said, give its 'imminent' redevelopment and lack of municipal budget, I don't think we're going to see any investment at that terminal.

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Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Sounds like you got a light sentence, at least.

Now, if you want to go after his records on the environment, or labour, or indigenous rights, or any number of other things I'll happily agree with you. It's not all black and white. But on the defence side your arguments were invalid. Like I said, time has yet to tell on that one.

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Didn't read anything I said, huh. I'm not defending him at all. Lots of legitimate criticism, I've said as much at least twice, but I'm not going to make up stuff or cling to empty arguments out of ignorance. It just undermines every other argument you make.

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And now you've just changed the subject entirely, so I think we're done here.

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It's still going to be a matter of public record, and you'll know just by seeing what's acquired. Who manufactures what is no mystery. You're creating imaginary problems now.

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If you want to be serious, look at what choices are made for the IFM, HDFM, CDC, nTACS and so on and so forth. You'll have plenty to actually judge his government on, but at least be serious and intellectually honest

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Or maybe he can't travel back in time to change decisions that were already made and can only influence decisions yet to be made? Like, there's a lot of legitimate criticism to be levelled at him, but this ain't it. Check the record after the next few procurement decisions.

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I don't think you understand what kind of timelines defence procurement works on. We're talking years here. Decades, even. And again, entanglement isn't something you undo overnight, it also takes time. Go do a bit of homework.

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Nah, only about a quarter of the actual block. That said, with everything else going on in that area it's only a matter of time... This is my general neighbourhood. I've been living in a constant construction zone for the last 6 years... (And I'm all for it. Exciting changes).

Not defending Carney on this, but no. Many of these things have been in the works for years, and go back to the Trudeau or even Harper years. These things are slow moving, and, as noted, very tangled and built on decades of pre-existing developments. You can't untangle it overnight, if at all.

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See the RCD program for the navy. Ostensibly the money goes to Irving because they're the lead contractor... But a lot of that money ultimately ends up in Europe via BAE, or the US via Lockheed Martin. Defence procurements are always a very tangled web.

...and often involve significant content from multiple subcontractors. The hull may come from one company, the weapons systems from another, the engine from another, and so on and so on. So even with a US primary contractor, you may see significant CanCon. That cuts both ways, too.

It's a Canadian subsidiary of a US company that we've been buying from since before it was bought by General Dynamics. It's an entire ecosystem with decades of investment and procurement. Defence procurement is also incredibly tangled because systems are rarely the product of just one company...

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In fairness some of the property acquisition costs will be recouped when the surplus property is re-sold. They don't need the full lot size of everything they're buying.

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I mean... This is from the 4th book, so not related to this movie, but... It's tradition at this point, I guess...

The cover of Frank Herbert's 'God Emperor of Dune' depicting a somewhat phallic looking sandworm with a human face.

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The neighbouring property on Windsor is also going, I believe. The barbershop that was there relocated.

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Sure, but it's 4WD with a V6. By Japanese standards it's full sized.

...a lot of it is very rocket specific. People get hung up on what they see in movies and from the major players. Maritime Launch recently signed a deal with Germany's Isar Aerospace to develop launch capabilities here. They currently launch from a remote site in Norway...

Isar Aerospace launch facility in Norway.

I'm fully in favour of healthy skepticism, I think that's a red herring and shows a bit of ignorance when it comes to the industry. Gravel lots and mobile launchers are entirely kosher for smaller sites. Fixed infrastructure typically isn't built until you have long term customers because...

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I mean, they don't even have to be that small. We could make a case for Toyota producing these domestically... There's even a crew cab version (No, I don't seriously think it'll ever happen)

Toyota HighAce full sized Japanese pickup.

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Hey, great motivation to set some new Olympic rowing records. Maybe more events should include deadly local fauna.

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Not really enforceable with the current system. You'd need something like tap on/tap off. They can't even get basic tap payments right, not sure they can be trusted with anything more complex than that. At least not without adding another 10-15 years to implementation time.

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Huh. Every pay at the pump I've done (for other people, no car if my own) is pay first up to a pre-authorized amount, then pump. No additional steps required, no chance of theft because the pump doesn't activate until the approved pre-auth. Didn't know any worked like that. Seems very old school.

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Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Yep... Having to move scooters from the middle of the sidewalk to the grass strip has also become a semi-regular activity.

Bird bikes blocking the sidewalk on Gottingen.

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Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Well that's annoying. Not entirely surprising as most stores don't want to have to monitor more than one entry point these days, but... annoying.

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Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

One of my favourites, too. So many good Pratchett moments to choose from, though. Collectively, the Discworld books gad a huge influence on how I view the world as an adult. Thanks, Sir Pterry.

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Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Entitlement is a helluva drug.

Phalanx @armouredphalanx.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Does it count if part of the cause is massive AI datacentre build-out?