Constructing an Aerospace Defence Mandate: 1958–81

Abstract

While acquiring nuclear weapons for its air defence forces was the major concern of Canadian political decision-makers upon the formation of the NORAD command, the major concern of military planners was to situate the command within the broad parameters of US strategic programs and planning. After all, continental defence against a declining bomber threat in the age of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was a fairly limited role. It lent itself, however, to expansion in two directions, and both expansions, if accomplished, had the potential to significantly alter the nature of the command.