First, Canada is investing $227.5 million in an Air Defence capability for Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia. Canada has finalized contracts with Saab Canada Inc. to procure the RBS 70 NG short-range Air Defence System, which will provide tactical air defence protection to Canadian troops in Latvia. This capability will enable Canadian troops to defend themselves against fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters within its range, close air support aircraft, class 1 small Uncrewed Aerial Systems, and larger Uncrewed Aerial Systems.
This is the first time since 2012 that the Canadian Armed Forces will have an Air Defence capability – and the first systems are expected to be delivered later this year.
Second, Canada is investing $46 million to acquire new counter-drone equipment. This will provide Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members deployed on Operation REASSURANCE with improved protection against hostile Class 1 UAS (small drones) by enabling their detection, identification, tracking, and defeat – ensuring freedom of action for land operations. Initial operational capability for this new equipment is expected later this year. The project will deliver counter-UAS systems, command and control hardware and software, sensors, non-kinetic effectors, and in service support and training.
Minister Blair announced these acquisitions during a visit to Brussels, Belgium, where he participated in a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers. Minister Blair emphasized how these new capabilities will strengthen NATO’s defence and deterrence posture on Canada’s eastern flank, where Canada leads NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia. Canada is more than doubling its military presence on Operation REASSURANCE – from about 1,000 troops currently to up to 2,200 persistently deployed troops by 2026, as Canada committed in the July 2023 Roadmap on Scaling the eFP Latvia Battle Group to Brigade.
Today’s announcement follows Minister Blair’s December 2023 trip to Latvia, where he announced that Canada will deploy Royal Canadian Air Force helicopters to the Battle Group starting this summer, and highlighted Canada’s recent deployment of a Canadian Army Tank Squadron of 15 Leopard 2A4M tanks to Latvia.
During his visit to Brussels, Minister Blair also highlighted that approximately 1,000 CAF sailors, soldiers, aviators, and special forces members (including the Canadian warship HMCS Charlottetown) are currently participating in NATO’s Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024. This is the largest NATO exercise in decades and will serve to rehearse NATO’s Deterrence and Defence plans to counter threats to the Euro-Atlantic area.
In addition, together with his Czech counterpart, Defence Minister Jana Černochová, Minister Blair also signed a Canada-Czechia Defence Cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU). This MOU will establish a framework for cooperation and outlines how Canada and Czechia will work collaboratively to strengthen cooperation in several areas such as bilateral and multilateral training, military education, defence research and technology, and mutual logistics research. In addition to enabling closer bilateral cooperation, this MOU will also enable Canada and Czechia to work together more closely in supporting Ukraine.
During this important moment for Euro-Atlantic security, Canada is working closely with NATO Allies and international partners to provide and coordinate comprehensive military assistance for Ukraine, and to help build a more resilient Alliance.
