Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) Series

Canadair was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer that became a cornerstone of the Canadian aerospace industry. Originally founded as a subsidiary of Electric Boat Company and later integrated into General Dynamics, it was famous for producing the CL-215 water bomber and developing the Challenger business jet series, which eventually led to the creation of the widely used Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) series.

In 1986, the Canadian government sold Canadair to Bombardier Inc. following a period of financial restructuring. Under Bombardier, the brand flourished as part of Bombardier Aerospace, setting a global standard for regional aviation. The legacy of Canadair remains central to Canada's manufacturing identity, specifically within the Montreal aerospace cluster.

In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the Canadair-originated product lines were divested as Bombardier pivoted toward business aviation. The CRJ program was acquired by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in 2020, leading to the formation of MHI RJ Aviation Group. While the Canadair name is no longer used for new production aircraft, the technology and manufacturing footprint continue to operate under MHI's ownership, headquartered in Japan.