Boeing responds to reports about Canada’s fighter jet acquisition plans

By Skies Magazine | December 8, 2017

Boeing has issued a statement about reports Canada intends to buy used F-18 Hornet fighter jets from the Royal Australian Air Force in lieu of new Super Hornet aircraft.

“The Boeing Company respects the Canadian government’s decision and applauds the government’s continued use of a two engine fighter solution, which is a critical part of their northern Arctic border defence, NORAD cooperation, and coast to coast to coast security,” said Boeing in a statement issued Friday morning.

“Although we will not have the opportunity to grow our supply base, industrial partnerships and jobs in Canada the way we would if Canada purchased new Super Hornets, we will continue to look to find productive ways to work together in the future.”

The statement came three days after the Reuters news agency reported Canada is scrapping its plan to buy 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighter jets amid a deepening dispute with Boeing.

Canada had been considering acquiring Super Hornets as an interim measure to address a capability gap in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Defence minister Harjit Sajjan would not confirm the report on Wednesday, saying at the time no decision had been made.

“We’re going through the proper analysis to making sure that we have the right options so that we can fill this capability gap that we do need to fill,” said Sajjan at the time.

The dispute stems from a challenge from Boeing about Bombardier’s C Series airliners, which Boeing claims are being dumped on the American market.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a press conference in September that Canada “won’t do business with a company that is busy trying to sue us and put our aerospace workers out of business.”

Boeing has alleged that Bombardier is illegally dumping its C Series airliners in the U.S. market at cut-rate prices and said Bombardier was able to do this because it was receiving unfair government subsidies.

The complaint resulted in the U.S. Commerce Department making a preliminary decision to impose tariffs of nearly 300 per cent on C Series jets sold to U.S. airlines.

Airbus has since agreed to acquire a majority stake in the C Series program, and the deal is expected to help Bombardier avoid U.S. tariffs.

“Our commitment to creating a level playing field in aerospace remains,” said Boeing in the statement on Friday. “Therefore, we will continue to support all efforts to build an environment of free and fair competition marked by compliance with agreed upon rules.”

Boeing also said it is “fortunate to have an outstanding 100 years of partnership with Canada, which had culminated in our [$4-billion] annual economic impact in Canada.”

“We look forward to partnering for the next 100 years,” the company said.