What’s Canada Buying? February 8, 2013

• F-35 Tug o’ War (1)  “The Lockheed Martin Corporation (yesterday) opened a new corporate office in Ottawa to better serve its Canadian customers and partners.  The enhanced corporate presence will help to deepen customer relationships as Lockheed Martin Canada develops domestic and international opportunities that will result in job creation and an increase in the value delivered to the corporation’s Canadian customers and their communities. A chief executive will soon be named to lead the office and will focus efforts on business development and government relations to further strengthen Lockheed Martin’s diverse activities in Canada ….”  One wonders if this announcement from Ottawa might… suggest … a bit of a short list for that bit in red?  We’ll see ….
  
• F-35 Tug o’ War (2a)  Meanwhile, “Two of Lockheed Martin’s top salesmen for the F-35 stealth fighter jet were in Ottawa Thursday for a round of media interviews, in the wake of a recent U.S. government report about development glitches for the trouble-plagued warplane and opposition criticism about high costs, to argue the F-35 is not only the best buy for Canada but also for future protection of Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic ….”
• F-35 Tug o’ War (2b)  “The vice-president of U.S. defence company Lockheed Martin says he is confident the F-35 will emerge as the best fighter jet for Canada as the Harper government looks at all options for replacing Canada’s aging CF-18s.  But Stephen O’Bryan refused to say whether he is confident the stealth fighter will be Canada’s next fighter aircraft when all is said and done ….”
• Wanted:  someone to build an indoor range “with virtual targetry” at CFB Petawawa for ~$3.3 million