Canadian military trying to fast-track delivery of air defence systems to troops in Latvia

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The Canadian military is revamping its purchase of ground-based air defence systems to focus on trying to get such equipment to troops in Latvia as quickly as possible.

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Originally, the Canadian Forces had a project office to back the purchase of a future air defence system, estimated to cost at least $1 billion.

But the procurement team will now concentrate its efforts on the more urgent purchase of a short-range air defence battery that can be sent to support Canadian troops in Latvia as soon as possible, according to an Oct. 10 update to defence companies.

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Canadian soldiers are in Latvia as part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in July 2023 that, as part of a major commitment to NATO, Canada would spend an additional $2.6 billion to double the number of troops it stationed in Latvia. The government’s plan would see up to 2,200 troops deployed for what is being called Operation Reassurance.

In the face of continued Russian aggression in Ukraine, Canada intends to address Operation Reassurance’s urgent need for a short-range air defence system that will be able to deal with incoming rockets, artillery and mortar rounds, according to the Oct. 10 notice to defence firms. It will continue to work with companies on the technical details for the new equipment. “The intention is to procure a nearly Military Off The Shelf system with very little Canada specific modifications and changes,” added the government message to companies.

Canada has already acquired man-portable surface-to-air missiles for the Latvia mission.

Once the purchase of the short-range air defence battery for Latvia is completed, the procurement team will then turn its attention to the purchase of more extensive ground-based air defence systems for the rest of the military.

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DND spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown said in an email to the Ottawa Citizen that dividing the projects into different phases was necessary.

“Breaking the project into phases and accelerating the (Latvian mission) procurement will result in a better alignment with the army’s immediate priorities,” he added.

DND did not provide information on when the short range air defence battery would be acquired or delivered to Latvia.

Drescher Brown said that the budget of the air defence system for the Latvian mission can’t be disclosed at this time.

In February 2023, the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Canadian Army was fast-tracking its purchase of anti-tank weapons as well as air defence systems for troops stationed in Latvia, fueled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine..

The equipment was being classified as an Urgent Operational Requirement, the same process used during the Afghanistan war to speedily obtain gear without going through the slower traditional procurement procedures.

Lt.-Col. Eric Hardy, of the army’s equipment procurement team, briefed industry officials Feb. 3, 2023 about the initiatives to fast-track the purchases. Hardy noted in his briefing that the army’s new air defence system would “counter the assessed air threat from within the Baltic region.”

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The new anti-tank weapons for the Latvia mission have already been ordered.

But the National Post reported on Nov. 26 that there are problems with those missiles and concerns they are not performing as required. The National Post noted that DND is considering cancelling the contract.

DND did not provide comment to the National Post by deadline.

The Canadian Army has been without an air defence capability since 2012 and has tried over the last decade to convince governments to purchase such equipment.

The army was outfitted in 1989 with a then state-of-the art air defence anti-tank system known as ADATS. It was purchased to protect bases in Germany against attack by the Russians, but, shortly after ADATS was delivered, the Cold War ended and the systems were shipped back to Canada. Faced with budget cuts ordered by the Conservative government of the time, the army announced it was removing ADATS from service in 2012.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

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