Home > CMH > Vol. 35 (2026) > Iss. 1
Abstract
Editor's note: Forty years ago, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel planned and executed Exercise LIGHTNING STRIKE 86, which explored the possibility of a Soviet threat in the Canadian Arctic. In the dying days of the Cold War, the exercise seemed irrelevant. No longer. Lieutenant Colonel Taylor’s account draws upon his long experience and memories of the operation. It reminds us of the immense operational challenges the CAF face in Canada’s North; the important role of the Canadian Rangers; and the need for a “historical memory” of operations that were once thought unimportant. It is also a reminder of how quickly Canada’s strategic interests can change.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Greg "Defending Canada’s Arctic." Canadian Military History 35, 1 (2026)
