This aircraft was the only jet fighter conceived, designed, tested and manufactured for operational RCAF service entirely in Canada.

The need to locate and engage enemy aircraft at night and in cloud was one of the highest priorities of the early jet age. The CF-100 was one of the first aircraft to have this capability.

It was originally designed to defend Canada and the United States by intercepting Soviet long-range strategic bombers attacking over the Arctic.

The CF-100 combined massive firepower in the form of guns and rockets with an effective radar fire control system that linked the radar and ballistics to improve accuracy. It could also climb rapidly and had a very long range.