Imagine a world where Canada wasn’t pressured into buying fighter jets from other nations. Six decades ago, that dream was very real. Today, as the US pushes Canada to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets – even threatening to alter continental defense (NORAD) if they refuse – many Canadians are looking back at a monumental decision: the cancellation of the Avro Arrow.
Sixty-six years ago, Canada was on the cusp of aerospace greatness. The CF-105 Arrow wasn’t just another plane; it was one of the most advanced supersonic interceptors of its time, designed to defend against Cold War Soviet bombers. Avro Canada, a homegrown company, poured cutting-edge innovation into the Arrow, pioneering technologies like the world’s first non-experimental fly-by-wire system. It was a sleek, powerful machine that promised to make Canada a global leader in military aviation.
But on February 20, 1959, a day famously known as “Black Friday,” that dream was abruptly grounded. Faced with mounting costs, a shift in defense priorities towards missiles (ICBMs), and a new government, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker canceled the program. Prototypes were scrapped, and engineers dispersed, leaving a void that would never quite be filled.
Fast forward to today, and the “sins of the fathers” seem to echo loudly. Without an independent fighter jet program, Canada finds itself in a tough spot, reviewing F-35 purchases while exploring alternatives from Sweden and France. The current F-35 saga isn’t just about jets; it’s a stark reminder of what could have been – an independent aerospace powerhouse, free from foreign arm-twisting. The Avro Arrow remains a potent symbol of Canada’s lost potential and a continuing debate about what really led to its demise.
Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/canadas-indigenous-fighter-jet-program/
