Lack of a domestic arms industry?

[Retired AF Guy]

Actually Canada can still manufacture a lot its own ammunition

http://www.gd-ots.com/

You learn something knew everyday.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Based on the initial post, I think the question was more like why don't we have companies like SAAB, Hägglunds and Bofors, which make world class arms for the Swedish military.

Culture and "national mythology" probably have a lot to do with it, Sweden has a similar climate, population and GDP as Canada, and I doubt the Swedes are much smarter than Canadians in general. Canadians are also comfortable with the idea that the United States will take care of us, while the Swedes have had Imperial and Communist Russia as a neighbour for centuries, nothing like having a real enemy on your border to focus the mind.

Don't forget that at one time Sweden was a major European power - militarily and politically - which resulted in the Swedes developing its own arms industry to supply its forces. Canada, on the other hand, relied on the Brits to protect us, so we never had the need to develop our own arms industry.