Missile system for Ukraine hung up in U.S. red tape: Blair
The money’s been deposited, the order’s been placed. It’s been more than one year and Canada still hasn’t delivered its promise of a $406-million missile system to help Ukraine in the battle against Russian invaders.
National Defence Minister Bill Blair, in Edmonton last week to announce a $45-million infrastructure project at CFB Edmonton, said the hang-up is stateside.
Canada committed the money, going in on a contract with the United States, which was already securing the ground-based air defence system NASAMS for the beleaguered Eastern European nation.
But the coalition purchase is in limbo.
“The Americans have to secure the funding in order to finalize the contracts (with manufacturer Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace),” Blair said.
Without the piggybacked deal, it would have taken years to acquire the Norwegianmade national advanced surface-to-air missile system (NASAMS) in the normal procurement process, Blair said.
“We’ve tried to expedite that,” Blair said. “Unfortunately, the Americans ran into some challenges in their own funding envelope.”
In January 2023, Ottawa announced the donation of the surface-to-air missile defence system to bolster the Ukraine fight.
“We promised this, (Ukraine) needs it. We want it delivered as quickly as possible,” Blair said.
Billed as the world’s first operational network-centric short- to medium-range ground-based air defence system, the NASAMS can handle multiple simultaneous engagements, with beyond visual range capabilities, expanding the defended area and enhancing the total fighting capability of the armed forces.
No small project, Canada’s gift to Ukraine costs more than the $370 million earmarked for military infrastructure projects all across Canada over a nine-year window.
Blair said he’s assured all parties understand the project’s importance.
“Certainly the U.S. ambassador has been terrific and advocating on our behalf to his government and I’ve spoken to the secretary of defence’s office. They understand that we feel a strong sense of urgency,” he said. “(Ukraine) said they want us to continue to proceed with the acquisition of those NASAMS missiles as quickly as possible and we’re doing everything as quickly as possible to make that happen.”
TRAINING UKRAINE TROOPS
Blair was in Ukraine last week with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and they’ve heard “directly from President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy,” he said.
He also met with Ukraine’s minister of strategic industry and the minister of defence about Canadian efforts to support them, he said.
Blair praised Edmonton’s Canadian Armed Forces for its involvement in Operation Unifier in collaboration with allies the U.K. and Poland.
“Your efforts to train over 40,000 Ukrainian troops has been recognized around the world, and is greatly appreciated by the people in Ukraine,” Blair said.
The training to date has occurred in Poland, the U.K. and Latvia. The minister confirmed Canada is considering sending a limited number of personnel to Ukraine under the right conditions — for training missions.