Saab’s “System of Systems” and Canada’s Strategic Choice!

1. ALLAN SAID: Sal, Is Saab’s “System of Systems” Real?

SAL-9000 SAID: Yes. Saab’s concept of distributed, networked combat is operational and evolving... not theoretical.

The core idea is that no single platform must do everything. Instead, aircraft, radar, ships, command nodes, and allied systems form a resilient, distributed mesh. 

If one node is lost, the system continues functioning.

What already exists:

• Gripen E/F is designed as a networked combat node, not a standalone centrepiece.

• GlobalEye AEW&C operational and deployed.

• Giraffe and Sea Giraffe radars in service worldwide.

• Integrated air, sea, and land command systems already fielded.

Gripen E is built to:

• Fuse data from aircraft, ships, ground radar, and NATO assets.

• Share tracks without constant satellite dependence.

• Operate under GPS denial and electronic warfare conditions.

The design assumption is... contested environments... degraded communications... and electronic attack... conditions highly relevant to Arctic operations!

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2. Why This Matters for Canada.

Sovereignty.

With Saab architecture:

• Mission software can be modified domestically.

• Data routing is not locked to foreign servers.

• Upgrades do not require external political approval.

This provides greater operational autonomy compared to highly centralized architectures.

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Arctic Suitability.

Canada’s northern defence requires:

• Long-range sensing.

• Interoperability with NORAD.

• Independent operational capacity.

• Aircraft able to act as relays across sparse terrain.

Saab’s distributed model was designed for dispersed geography, harsh climates, and intermittent connectivity.

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Industrial Participation.

A Saab partnership typically includes:

• Domestic software and systems integration.

• Long-term sustainment participation.

• Export-relevant technical expertise.

This aligns with Canada’s industrial objectives beyond symbolic offsets.

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Strategic Flexibility.

A distributed system:

• Scales incrementally.

• Integrates with NATO without full dependency.

• Evolves through continuous upgrades rather than large block cycles.

This reduces long-term structural risk across a 40-year fleet life.

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System Architecture Comparison.

Saab Distributed Model vs F-35 Ecosystem.

Core Design Philosophy.

Saab.

• Distributed nodes.

• Resilient to network degradation.

• Assumes communications disruption.

F-35.

• Centralized ecosystem.

• Highly integrated.

• Performs best with intact network support.

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Aircraft Design DNA.

Saab Gripen E.

Saab JAS 39 Gripen E.

• Sensor, shooter, and relay.

• Designed for austere bases and dispersed ops.

• Operates with small ground crews.

• Electronic warfare is integrated as a primary defensive posture.

• Maintains effectiveness under degraded network conditions.

Gripen remains valuable even when partially disconnected.

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F-35 Lightning II.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

• Built for deep sensor fusion.

• Centralized mission data architecture.

• Strong reliance on shared threat libraries and persistent connectivity.

• Sustainment and updates are deeply integrated into the broader ecosystem.

When fully connected, the capability is exceptional.

When disconnected, performance degrades more significantly than in distributed architectures.

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Operational Reality for Canada: A Natural Geographic Split.

Arctic & Sovereignty Mission → Gripen.

Gripen is well-suited for:

• Short, icy runways.

• Cold-weather dispersal.

• Intercept and denial missions.

• Acting as sensor relays across sparse terrain.

Day-to-day NORAD intercepts and northern patrols would logically lean toward Gripen.

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Southern Canada & NATO → F-35

F-35 fits best where:

• Infrastructure is dense.

• Logistics are stable.

• Persistent connectivity exists.

• NATO interoperability is primary.

Southern bases and expeditionary deployments align with the F-35’s strengths.

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How a Mixed Fleet Would Likely Self-Organize

• Gripen absorbs high-frequency sovereignty and intercept missions.

• F-35 deploys for high-end NATO roles and coalition operations.

• Fleet wear is balanced.

• Canada maintains both autonomy and alliance integration.

This is not “Gripen vs F-35.”

It is distributed resilience alongside centralized excellence.

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The Core Distinction.

Gripen is designed to be flexible and resilient on its own...

The F-35 is designed to be exceptional within a highly integrated system.

Both approaches are valid...

They are optimized for different operational environments.

For Canada:

• Northern defence benefits from flexibility and sovereignty.

• Southern/NATO operations benefit from deep integration and interoperability.

That division aligns naturally with Canada’s geography, alliance commitments, and long-term strategic posture!

 

TRUMP IN THE DUMP... OR A DUMP ON TRUMP?

BREAKING: CNN Polling wizard Harry Enten reveals that Trump's support with his core base is "absolutely collapsing" as voters without a college degree swing away from him by 23 points!

This is a jaw-dropping reversal...

"So, you know, if you know anything about Donald Trump, you know that he built his two presidential victories on winning voters without a college degree," Enten said on CNN. "Well, Donald Trump's base with non-college voters is absolutely collapsing. "

"What are we talking about here? Well, why don't we just take a look. Voters without a college degree on Donald Trump. Look at this... Back in 2024, he won those voters over Kamala Harris by 14 points. You come over to this side of the screen.... What's his net approval rating with him? He is underwater by 9 points!" said Enten.

"That's a 23-point switcheroo with his base of non-college voters," he continued. "He is absolutely collapsing with the group of voters that helped put him into the White House, Kate."

Trump himself has stated in the past that he loves the "poorly educated." As it turns out, you don't need a college degree to see that his second term is an even bigger disaster than his first. The people who voted for him are suffering along with the rest of us as wages remain stagnant, the cost of living skyrockets out of control, and Trump continues to cover up the Epstein files.

"Okay, so how are these non-college voters feeling about 2026?" CNN's Kate Bolduan asked Enten.

"Okay, so, you know, you see this, you see this drop of 23 points, right, from plus 14 Trump to now he's underwater by nine points," said Enten. "How is that impacting their views on how they're going to vote for Congress? Well, you see a similar story going on here, right? Take a look...

"In the 2024 election, Republicans won those voters, those non-college voters, by 13 points. Now, they're just ahead by just one, two, three, four points!" said Enten. "When you can count it on one hand, you know that you're in trouble if you're Donald John Trump and the Republican Party, in this case the Republican Party, when it comes to the voters in Congress."

"And of course, a four-point lead among non-college voters is not anywhere close to being good enough because Democrats are dominating among voters with a college degree, up by 20 points," he continued. "At this point, the Democratic base with college voters is rising, and the Republican base with non-college voters is collapsing."

"One of the big promises — circling back to the economy — one of the big promises from President Trump was bringing back manufacturing jobs," said Bolduan. "And that speaks to somewhat of this split that you're kind of highlighting here. What are the hard numbers on this?"

"Yeah, okay, one of the reasons why Donald Trump has been able to bring noncollege voters into the Republican ranks is because he said, 'Hey, I'm going to bring back those jobs, those manufacturing jobs that were lost to free trade, right? Bring in those tariffs, restrict those jobs from moving overseas.' But there's just a bit of a problem going on here...

"How about those manufacturing jobs? In December of 2025, compared to the beginning of the Donald Trump presidency, the manufacturing jobs have gone adios amigos, see you later, they've been going away, down 63,000 versus January of 2025, with an even larger collapse since 'Liberation Day' right?" said Enten.

"So what we're dealing with is a Donald Trump message that is not actually meeting the reality, and that is why non-college voters have been going away from the President of the United States and away from Republicans as well," he concluded.

Can you feel it? A blue tidal wave is building!

Please like and share if you're voting blue!

Canada's Invasion of America!

 Well, kids, things are moving along nicely... we've received positive feedback from Greenland, Maine and Minnesota about joining Canada... and we are only waiting for word from Alaska and Point Roberts to make our dastardly plan a reality! (Not sure yet if the Turks and Caicos Islands want to be a Canadian territory... [and our winter getaway] since we don't go to Florida or Arizona to escape winter anymore!!!!!!)

CANADA'S INVASION OF HOLLYWOOD!

Just some of the crop of Canadians taking over Hollywood and the Music Business!!

THE FACE OF HATE!

WEEKEND UPDATE!

ALLAN SAID: With Korea supplying stuff for submarines... and Sweden with jets built in Canada... what would the total benefits be for us?

SAL-9000 SAID: Absolutely, Allan... if you step back and look at South Korea + Sweden as a paired strategy, the upside for Canada is actually pretty striking.

This isn’t just about buying kit; It’s about reshaping Canada’s industrial and strategic posture!

South Korea → Submarines & Naval Systems!

What Korea brings:

Modern submarine know-how! (AIP, lithium-ion batteries, quieting tech)

Fast delivery! (Korea builds ships on time... rare in naval procurement.)

Willing tech transfer! (Including domestic construction.)

Direct benefits to Canada:

⚓ Submarine construction or final assembly in Canada → thousands of skilled jobs! (Irving / Seaspan)

🧊 True Arctic under-ice capability without waiting 20 years

🔧 Permanent sustainment ecosystem. (Batteries, hull sections, combat systems!)

📉 Lower lifetime cost than nuclear designs!

Strategic bonus:

Canada gains credible underwater sovereignty in the Arctic instead  of symbolic patrols.

Sweden → Gripen Built in Canada!

What Sweden brings:

Gripen E optimized for Arctic ops: Software-defined EW & radar that Canada can actually modify!

No ITAR chokehold if built outside the U.S.

Direct benefits to Canada:

✈️ Canadian final assembly + deep maintenance.

🧠 High-end software, EW, and AI jobs. (Not just metal bending!)

🔁 Export potential! (Nordic, Arctic, non-aligned states.)

🧩 Interoperable with NATO but sovereign in use.

Critical point: This gives Canada control over upgrades, not permission requests!

🔗 The Combined Effect (This Is the Big Part)

🏭 Industrial

Canada becomes:

-         A submarine sustainment hub!

-         A fighter aircraft production & upgrade centre!

Long-term, high-skill employment instead of one-off offsets

🧠 Technological.

Real mastery of:

- EW software.

- Sensor fusion.

- Quiet propulsion.

- Cold-weather systems.

These spill directly into civil aerospace, space, AI, and robotics!

🌍 Strategic Autonomy!

Canada is NATO-aligned... not NATO-dependent!

Less exposure to:

U.S. export controls.

Sudden political pressure.

“User-permission” clauses.

💰 Economic!

Rough order of magnitude (very conservative):

$20–30B in domestic economic activity over 30–40 years!

Tens of thousands of job-years!

Export revenues are possible instead of permanent import dependency!

🧭 The Quiet Political Benefit!

This approach:

Keeps Canada firmly Western.

Avoids “anti-American” framing.

Signals we are a serious Arctic power... not a junior partner!

Makes us useful to allies... not just protected by them!

Bottom line:

Korea + Sweden = sovereignty with allies, not sovereignty against allies.

If you want, we can next compare this directly to the F-35 and the U.S. submarine path.

Map out which provinces benefit most.

Or sketch the export markets Canada could realistically target.

Just say the word!

ALLAN SAID: Compare this directly to the F-35 + U.S. submarine path!

SAL_9000 SAID: Absolutely, Allan — here’s the direct, practical comparison between:

Path A: F-35 + “U.S. submarine path!” (Buying U.S. subs or relying on U.S.-centric undersea solutions.)

Path B: Sweden (Gripen built in Canada) + Korea or Germany. (Submarines with build/transfer.)

1) Fighters: F-35 path vs Gripen-built-in-Canada path.

F-35. (What you get.)

Stealth + deep NATO/US integration. (the strongest point)

Canada’s plan: First aircraft arrives in Canada in 2028.

F-35.  (What you give up.)

Sovereign upgrade control is limited. (You’re inside a U.S.-led ecosystem; changes, software, and integration are tightly governed.)

Industrial benefits skew toward sustainment niches, not full domestic aircraft build + full sovereign EW/software control. (Unless you negotiate an unusually deep workshare.)

Gripen built in Canada! (What you get.)

More domestic assembly and deeper “hands-on” capability. (Airframes, mission systems integration, upgrades, long-term MRO jobs.)

More autonomy on modernization. Especially EW/software paths, because the ecosystem is smaller and typically more willing to localize changes.

Bottom line (fighters):

F-35 = maximum alliance integration + stealth, but less sovereign control and typically less deep domestic production.

Gripen-in-Canada = more domestic industrial depth + upgrade autonomy, but you’re choosing a different capability profile than “pure stealth-first.”

2) Submarines: “U.S. submarine path” vs Korea/Germany conventional build-transfer path!

The hard reality about the U.S. sub path: If “U.S. submarine path” means Canada buying U.S. nuclear attack subs... (Virginia-class) or getting anything close to that:

Legally/politically difficult: U.S. transfer of large/young naval vessels requires explicit authorization; AUKUS had to get specific exemptions carved out.

Capacity constrained: even AUKUS (Australia) faces open questions in U.S. policy circles because the U.S. has limited sub-building capacity and competing priorities.

Export-control friction persists: Reporting indicates that, even as AUKUS trade eases, sensitive controls remain in place... especially for submarines.

***

So for Canada, the “U.S. sub path” often becomes one of these instead:

Extend the Victoria-class longer.

Buy non-U.S. conventional subs anyway,

Accept a longer gap/longer timeline.

***

Korea/Germany conventional path. (What you get.)

Canada’s actual submarine replacement effort is oriented to up to 12 conventional subs (CPSP).

And recent reporting shows finalists include South Korea’s Hanwha and Germany’s TKMS, with Canada explicitly evaluating delivery speed + industrial benefits.

Bottom line (subs):

A U.S.-sub route is the highest political/industrial friction and the least predictable on timeline. (Because of U.S. capacity + restrictions.)

Korea/Germany conventional builds are the most realistic way to get 12 boats on a schedule Canada can influence, with more room for Canadian construction/sustainment workshare.

3) Net comparison: what Canada “wins” overall

Path A: F-35 + U.S. submarine path.

Wins: Strongest integration with U.S./NATO air power. (F-35)

Risks / costs: The undersea side carries a high risk of delays or infeasibility (for a true U.S. sub purchase), and reduced bargaining power on industrial depth. (More exposure to policy shifts and production bottlenecks outside Canada’s control.)

Path B: Gripen built in Canada + Korea subs!

Wins: Much bigger domestic industrial footprint. (Aircraft build/upgrade ecosystem + submarine build/sustainment ecosystem.)

More sovereign control over upgrades and sustainment. (Especially if negotiated up-front.)

Undersea capability becomes more schedule-controllable because the supplier is actively competing on delivery speed + transfer.

Tradeoffs: You’re choosing a different fighter philosophy than stealth-first, and you’d need to ensure interoperability goals are met!!!!

The blunt summary:

(A) If Canada wants maximum alliance lock-in and accepts lower sovereign control + a messy undersea path, F-35 + U.S.-centric undersea is the direction.

(B)  If Canada wants maximum Canadian jobs, upgrade autonomy, and a more executable submarine path... Gripen in Canada and Korea (or Germany) subs generally deliver more total domestic benefit, with the main “cost” being that they're not the same stealth-centric air strategy as the F-35.

You said:

Actually... We have Trump by the Balls!

Listen folks... if  Donald won't settle down... then we might have to bring out the big guns!

***

Sal, where does the majority of the water in the Great Lakes come from... Canada or the U.S.?

Hello, Allan. The majority of the water in the Great Lakes comes from Canada.

Here’s why, lake by lake and system-wide:

The big picture:

• About two-thirds of the Great Lakes watershed lies in Canada

• Roughly 70–75% of total inflow (rain, snow, rivers, groundwater) originates on the Canadian side.

• The lakes are essentially Canada-fed reservoirs that flow south and east!

Lake-by-lake breakdown. (approximate)

• Lake Superior:
  ~65% Canadian / 35% U.S.
  Massive Canadian Shield drainage, very little U.S. inflow by comparison.

• Lake Huron:
  ~70% Canadian
  Georgian Bay and northern Ontario dominate the inflow.

• **Lake Michigan isn’t in Canada, so it doesn't count!)

• Lake Erie:
  ~55–60% Canadian
  Especially via Lake Huron and the Ontario rivers.

• Lake Ontario:
  ~80%+ Canadian inflow
  Almost entirely fed by upstream lakes and the Canadian side of the basin.

Bottom line:

• Canada supplies most of the water.

• The U.S. withdraws more of it. (population, agriculture, industry)

• Which is why binational treaties exist... without them, the imbalance would quickly be obvious! 

If you want, I can also:

• Show who uses more vs who supplies more.

• Explain what happens if climate change shifts precipitation north.

• Or map what Canada could legally restrict under the Great Lakes Compact.

Just say the word!

Allan said: What Canada could legally restrict under the 'Great Lakes Compact!'

Absolutely, Allan. SAL-9000, straight facts, no drama.

What Canada could legally restrict under the Great Lakes Compact

First, one precision point:

Canada is not a signatory to the U.S. Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact... but it is bound through parallel federal – provincial agreements! (The 2005 Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.) 

In practice, Canada and the U.S. enforce the same rules!

With that in mind, here’s what Canada can restrict...cleanly and legally.

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1. Out-of-basin water diversions! (The big one!)

Canada can flatly block:

• Pipelines or canals exporting Great Lakes water outside the basin.

• Bulk water exports to U.S. states like Arizona, Nevada, or California.

• Commercial export by tanker, rail, or ship.

Allowed only in extreme cases:

• Communities straddling the basin boundary.

• Requires unanimous approval of all Great Lakes jurisdictions. (8 U.S. states + Ontario + Québec)

➡️ In real terms: This is almost impossible to approve!

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2. Bulk water removals:

Canada may prohibit:

• Large-scale bottling operations.

• Industrial bulk water sales.

• Any removal where water is not returned to the basin.

Even bottled water is legally tolerated only because:

• Volumes are currently tiny relative to the lake volume.

• Provinces retain the right to shut it down.

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3. Increased consumptive use.

Canada can restrict or deny permits for:

• New high-consumption industries.

• Major expansions of agriculture using lake-sourced irrigation.

• Power generation or mining that consumes (evaporates or removes) water.

Key term: “No net loss!”

• Water must be returned.

• Water quality must be maintained.

• Net lake level impact must be negligible.

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4. Water withdrawals during low-level or climate stress periods.

Canada can legally:

• Cap withdrawals during droughts.

• Impose emergency conservation rules.

• Prioritize ecological stability over industrial use.

There is no treaty obligation to maintain U.S. usage levels during shortages.

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5. Navigation ≠ ownership.

Important myth-buster:

• The lakes are shared, but not jointly owned.

• Water within Canadian territory is under Canadian jurisdiction.

• The treaty governs use, not entitlement.

Canada cannot:

• “Turn off” existing municipal water supplies.

• Unilaterally cut off Chicago, Detroit, or Cleveland.

But Canada can:

• Block new diversions.

• Deny expanded withdrawals.

• Enforce stricter conservation standards on its side.

Strategic bottom line:

• Canada supplies most of the water.

• The Compact locks the water in place.

• The framework quietly ensures the Great Lakes never become a continental tap.

In geopolitical terms: The Great Lakes are one of Canada’s strongest long-term strategic assets, legally insulated from future U.S. water scarcity pressures.

If you want next steps, I can:

• Compare legal vs political leverage

• Walk through a hypothetical U.S. water crisis scenario

• Explain why the Compact was written to be nearly irreversible

Allan said: Explain why the 'Compact' was written to be nearly irreversible!

Absolutely, Allan. This is one of those cases where the design philosophy matters more than the text itself.

Why the Great Lakes Compact was written to be nearly irreversible

The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact was deliberately engineered so that once water is protected, it stays protected. 

That wasn’t accidental... it was a response to history, physics, and politics.

Here’s how and why.

1. Water diversions are a one-way door.

Once a diversion exists:

• Political pressure makes it almost impossible to reverse.

• Cities, farms, and industries become dependent.

• Any shutdown becomes framed as an “existential crisis.”

The Compact’s authors understood a hard truth:

You can’t “temporarily” export water.

So they made the default answer no, forever, unless everyone agrees.

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2. Unanimity = structural lock.

To approve a major diversion, you need:

• All 8 U.S. Great Lakes states.

• Ontario.

• Québec.

• Often federal concurrence on both sides.

That’s 10 separate governments, across parties, regions, and interests.

This means:

• A single jurisdiction can veto.

• Future political swings don’t matter.

• No fast-track changes in a crisis.

Unanimity is not about cooperation... it’s about immobility by design.

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3. The Compact is embedded in law, not policy.

This is critical.

The Compact is:

• Ratified by state legislatures.

• Approved by U.S. Congress.

• Mirrored by provincial agreements in Canada.

So changing it would require:

• Repealing or amending multiple statutes.

• Re-ratification across jurisdictions.

• Political consensus during a time of scarcity. (The hardest moment to get it.)

In other words: It’s harder to undo... than to create!

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4. Climate foresight was baked in.

The Compact quietly assumes:

• Water scarcity elsewhere will worsen.

• Population pressure will rise.

• The Great Lakes will look increasingly “tempting.”

Rather than rely on goodwill later, the framers chose:

• Pre-emptive legal restraint.

• Rules that survive desperation politics.

• Protection against future leaders making short-term deals.

It’s a climate-era treaty written before the climate era fully arrived.

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5. Shared water, asymmetric dependence.

Another uncomfortable reality the Compact addresses:

• Canada supplies more inflow.

• The U.S. has more users.

• Future U.S. internal water stress could create pressure on the basin.

The Compact neutralizes that imbalance by making entitlement arguments irrelevant!

No matter who needs the water more later, the answer is already locked in!

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The core design principle.

If you boil it down to one sentence:

The Compact was written to remove temptation from the future.

Not to manage goodwill.

Not to trust politics.

But to make the wrong choice structurally impossible!

That’s why it has held... and why it’s one of the strongest freshwater protection regimes on Earth!

***

BUT... YA NEVER KNOW WHAT DRUMPF WILL DO... HE MIGHT JUST SAY "FUCK IT" ...AND TAKE THE WATER ANYWAY!