 From 1955 onwards , the UK had shown considerable interest in the Arrow ; in April 1956 , the UK 's Air Council recommended a purchase of 144 Arrows for the RAF to serve alongside the Saunders @-@ Roe SR.177 mixed power interceptor , instead of the " thin @-@ wing " Gloster Javelin then under study . Projected power plants for the RAF Arrow were the Bristol Olympus 7R - 17 @,@ 000 lbf ( 76 kN ) thrust dry , 23 @,@ 700 lbf ( 105 kN ) with reheat , the Rolls @-@ Royce Conway Stage 4 - 18 @,@ 340 lbf ( 81 @.@ 6 kN ) thrust dry , 29 @,@ 700 lbf ( 132 kN ) with reheat , and the de Havilland Gyron - 19 @,@ 500 lbf ( 87 kN ) thrust dry , 28 @,@ 000 lbf ( 120 kN ) with reheat . Procurement of the Arrow from Canada , and setting up a production line in the UK , was studied , the unit price per aircraft built in the UK being estimated at £ 220 @,@ 000 each for a production run of 100 aircraft , as opposed to the estimate of £ 150 @,@ 000 per aircraft for the " thin wing " Javelin . The CF @-@ 105 would serve as a stopgap until the UK 's F.155 project came to fruition ; however with the F.155 due in 1963 and the Arrow not likely to reach the RAF before 1962 , there was little point in proceeding . The infamous 1957 Defence White Paper , described as " the biggest change in military policy ever made in normal times " , led to the cancellation of almost all British manned fighter aircraft then in development , and completely curtailed any likelihood of a purchase . In January 1959 , the UK 's final answer was no ; Britain countered with an offer to sell Canada the English Electric Lightning . 
