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Graphic: Mapping a superpower-sized military
Despite the pending troop withdrawals in Iraq and those in Afghanistan between now and 2014, the United States remains a superpower on a scale not seen since the days of the Caesars. With this in mind, the National Post’s Richard Johnson takes a look at the scale of America’s forces.
‘Royal’ returns for Canada’s armed forces
After 43 years, the Canadian Forces are regaining their “royal” moniker. Canada’s navy and air force are to be restored to their pre-1968 titles of Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force. Land Force Command will now be known simply as the Canadian Army.
The move — pushed by veteran groups loyal to the Crown — is being praised as a salute to the country’s history and decried as a throwback to colonial times. (Photo: Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images)
What happens to Canada if the U.S. scraps the F-35?
The Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter-bomber was supposed to serve as the backbone of the U.S. Air Force while bringing affordable radar-evading stealth technology to medium-sized U.S. allies including Australia, the Netherlands and Canada. Now senior Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee are openly musing about scrapping the most expensive defence program in history. The F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is 13 to 30 months late meeting revised deadlines. The price per unit has doubled. Last week the Pentagon issued what Senator John McCain called a “jaw-dropping” estimate of US$1-trillion to keep a future 2,400-plane U.S. fleet of F-35s flying for five decades. Canada has been counting on the F-35 to defend its airspace. The Post’s Adam McDowell looks at what is at stake if this option is taken away.
