Canada completes transfer of NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
Canada's Minister of Defense has confirmed the delivery of the promised NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine. The systems were purchased for $406 million, which was announced in January 2023.
Canada's Minister of National Defense Bill Blair said that the long-awaited American-made missile defense systems, which the Canadian government helped to purchase, have been delivered to Ukraine. This was reported by UNN with reference to CBC.
On Thursday morning, Blair told the House Defense Committee that the National Advanced Missile Defense System (NASAMS), for which Ottawa allocated $406 million almost two years ago, is already in the hands of Ukrainians.
I can't give you any more details on that because of operational security, but we were finally able to deliver them, and I think that will make a difference because it will allow them to protect the communities
The planned $406 million purchase was announced in January 2023, but the Department of National Defense told CBC News in September that the federal government did not transfer funds to Washington to pay for the system until March 2023.
Washington could not start negotiating a contract with the manufacturers until it had its own and Canada's money in hand, and it had to get Congressional approval to buy NASAM. Congress gave the green light in May 2023.
