Canada releases fighter RFP

Canada has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for 88 new combat aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Boeing F/A-18 (CF-18/CF-188 in national service) Hornets.

The RFP, released by Public Services and Procurement Canada on 23 July, has been sent to Sweden for the Saab Gripen E; to the United Kingdom for the Eurofighter Typhoon (the bid is being led by Airbus rather than BAE Systems, because of the company’s stake in Canadian-based Bombardier); and to the United States for both the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

The companies will submit a ‘security offer’ by the third quarter (Q3) of 2019 and, following feedback from the government, they may then revise and resubmit their offer as part of the initial proposal in Q2 2020.

“All bidders will be subject to the same evaluation criteria, and proposals will be rigorously assessed on elements of technical merit (60%), cost (20%) and economic benefits (20%). This procurement attributes one of the highest weightings to economic benefits for Canada in its history.