Canada to buy a NASAMS for Ukraine

Canada is purchasing a NASAMS air defense system and associated munitions from the United States to donate to Ukraine, National Defense Minister Anita Anand announced on Tuesday.

The donation, worth approximately CAD 406 million (about USD 300 million), comes from the additional CAD 500 million in military aid to Ukraine that Prime Minister Trudeau announced on Nov. 14, 2022, according to a Government of Canada news release.

“Canada stands in solidarity with Ukrainians as they fight heroically against Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion. We have committed over CAD 1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, and today, we are moving forward with the first Canadian donation of an air defense system to Ukraine. Canada will continue to collaborate with the United States, as well as other Allies and partners, to address Ukraine’s defense priorities in the short and long term – including with high-capability equipment such as the NASAMS,” Anand is quoted as saying.

NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a short-to-medium-range ground-based air defense system that protects against drone, missile and aircraft attacks with a high success rate.

In a tweet, the Canadian defense minister wrote that she spoke with her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov in the morning and “heard it directly: air defense systems are Ukraine’s top priority.” That is why Canada is purchasing a NASAMS from the United States to donate to Ukraine, she explained.

“In the face of Russia’s brutal airstrikes on Ukraine, this air defense system will help to protect Ukrainian population centers and critical infrastructure against drone, missile, and aircraft attacks,” she added.

I spoke with Ukrainian Defence Minister @OleksiiReznikov this morning and heard it directly: air defence systems are Ukraine’s top priority. That’s why Canada is purchasing a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the United States to donate to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/33bdHmcldb

— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) January 10, 2023

Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via CBC