Canada picks the F-16

Agree fully. The F16 would be/is great for NATO, the F18 looks like the better CAP though for the likes of Canada.

I've always liked the idea (slightly o/t I know) of the UK selecting the F18 in the 1980s. It could have equipped the RAF and the FAA if a new carrier fleet had been built to replace the Ark Royal generation. Also it would have tied in with an acquisition of the AV8B+ fighter and generated closer cooperation and ties between McDonnel Douglas and British Aerospace. Plus it would have looked great in a traditional Royal Navy colour scheme don't you think? :D
 
The Canadians are getting new C-130s right off the production line. The C-5s they're getting are from the USAF.

The biggest aircraft the Canada Forces have and need is the C-17. No other country has or requested the C-5. And the C-5 between 30-40 years old and no need for such massive lift why would they?
 
Yes , the F/a-18 would have given the British carriers (if they were large enough a pretty good punch. They would have really caused the Augies to think twice about invading the Falklands.
 
I agree the reason that the Canadians chose the F-18 was the fact that it was a dual engine aircraft and if anything went wrong with 1 engine the plane could make it home on the second.

It was also one of the reasons that Australia chose the aircraft and wanted the F-22 and not the F-35.

Apart from some nutcases Australia, at least it's government, doesn't want the F-22.

The whole idea of having twin-engined aircraft for reliability has pretty much gone out of the window, as the F-16 is one of the most reliable aircraft ever, despite having only a single engine.

An advantage of having F-16's over F-18's would have been cost; The F-16 has a much smaller logistical tail (especially the early models), fitted in smaller shelters (did the Canadians have to replace those when they chose for F-18's or don't they use standard NATO hardened shelters?).
Generally speaking the F-16 is cheaper to operate and cheaper to purchase then the F-18.

However afaik esl is correct in sofar that the F-16 initially wasn't very BVR capable, although later versions solved that with the AIM-120.
Although the remark about the F-16 just carrying two missiles is a bit strange; you're hopefully not suggesting that was it's limit, even while carrying external fuel?
IIRC 4 missiles and 2 fueltanks is quite common for a F-16, see here:
http://download.high-g.net/files/F-16_Handbooks/pacafi21-202.pdf
 
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