Canada promised to deliver a $400M air defence system to Ukraine a year ago. It still hasn't arrived.

Share this Story : Canada promised to deliver a $400M air defence system to Ukraine a year ago. It still hasn't arrived. Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News National Defence Watch Canada promised to deliver a $400M air defence system to Ukraine a year ago.

It still hasn't arrived. In April 2023, then Defence Minister Anita Anand falsely claimed the missile system was already “en route” to Ukraine. Get the latest from David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen straight to your inbox Sign Up Author of the article: David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen Published Jan 02, 2024 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 3 minute read A September 2022 file photo of a demonstration of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, known as NASAMS.

Photo by Raytheon / Handout Article content A $400 million air defence system promised almost a year ago by Canada to Ukraine has yet to be delivered as plans are still being developed. The Liberal government announced with great fanfare on Jan. 10, 2023 that it was acquiring the advanced air defence system and associated munitions for Ukraine at a cost of $406 million.

Article content But the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, or NASAMS, hasn’t been delivered, and plans are still being worked out, National Defence confirmed to this newspaper. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

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Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password New , a new way to login View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content “A National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System has been purchased from the United States, through a Foreign Military Sales case,” department spokesperson Andrew McKelvey said.

“Details on plans, including delivery timelines, are still under development with the United States.” National Defence did not provide an estimate on when the air defence system would arrive in Ukraine. Ukraine’s government has repeatedly stated that it’s in dire need of air defence systems as Russia increases attacks on its cities and military positions.

NASAMS is a short to medium range ground based air defence system that protects against drone, missile and aircraft attacks. The air defence system donation has figured prominently in speeches by Liberal government ministers as they highlight more than $9 billion in Canadian government support provided to Ukraine.

At the time of the original announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the donation. “Dear @JustinTrudeau, your true leadership in standing for democracy and human rights has been vividly proven again,” Zelenskyy stated on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Thank you for helping us to protect our sky. NASAMS procured for us by Canada will be a strong shield for our cities and citizens.” Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Zelenskyy, in a statement on X issued on Monday thanked Trudeau again for the NASAMS but no details were provided on when the system would be delivered.

In an interview with CBC News in April 2023, Anita Anand, then defence minister, falsely claimed the missile system was already “en route” to Ukraine. According to the federal government website on donations of military equipment to Ukraine, the eventual plan will have the U.S. deliver the system on Canada’s behalf.

The website noted that “updates on delivery will be provided in due course.” Those updates have not been given. Canada has not provided details about the companies supplying the air defence system, but, according to the U.S. government’s Congressional Research Service, the system is designed and developed jointly by Raytheon of the U.S.

and Kongsberg Defence of Norway. Since February 2022, Canada has committed more than $2.4 billion in military assistance donations to Ukraine, including M777 howitzers, ammunition and small arms, Leopard tanks, armoured vehicles, anti armour weapons and rocket launchers. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content But obtaining some of the details about where the purchased equipment is being sourced from as well as how donated equipment will be replaced has been difficult. For instance, when asked by this newspaper for a dollar estimate on the cost of replacing equipment donated to Ukraine, the Canadian Forces recently responded with an email statement: “We do not yet have a full cost estimate of the investment to replace these capabilities or equipment.” That statement had been approved for release by Army commander Lt.

Gen. Joe Paul and Troy Crosby, Assistant Deputy Minister of procurement. But just a week earlier Maj. Gen. Rob Dundon, chief of staff for National Defence’s Materiel Group and formerly the Director General of Land Equipment Program Management told a publication produced in collaboration with the army that the cost was $220 million.

National Defence did not explain why it provided a less than forthright response to this newspaper. In other cases, National Defence has declined to provide details on the sources of ammunition purchases financed by Canadian taxpayers. In April 2023, Trudeau stated that Canada would send 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, but the actual source of the ammunition is considered secret.

Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The government would only say that the ammunition was being ordered from Colt Canada in Kitchener, Ont. Eva Svobodová, spokesperson for Colt CZ Group, said the ammunition was “sourced” from Colt Canada.

She did not provide further details, but Colt Canada does not make ammunition. Some parliamentarians, such as Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, have continued to raise concerns about the transparency and accountability of defence procurement spending. 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 Related Stories Canadian Army stops promoting Conservative party material online after receiving complaint Delivery of Canada's F 35 fighter jets could be delayed — extra costs possible Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Canada promised to deliver a $400M air defence system to Ukraine a year ago.

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