A National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) donated by Canada has arrived in Ukraine, as announced by Canadian Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, on Friday.
Canada initially announced the acquisition of the US-made system in January 2023 and reportedly paid for it in March 2023. However, the delivery faced delays for undisclosed reasons. Blair stated, “This ground-based air defense system will help Ukraine protect itself against destructive air attacks. Canada’s support for Ukraine is steadfast, and we will continue to step up and build on our contributions to Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s invasion.” He also expressed gratitude towards the United States and Norway for their collaboration in ensuring the NASAMS’s safe arrival to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The NASAMS was purchased for 406 million Canadian dollars (approximately $289 million) from the United States. The announcement of the delivery follows German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement that Ukraine would receive its sixth planned IRIS-T air defense system by the end of this year. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western nations to donate new air defense systems following the firing of a new mid-range ballistic missile by Russia. In a video address, Zelensky remarked, “Ukraine’s defense minister is already holding meetings with our partners on new air defense systems — exactly the kind of systems that can protect lives from new risks.”
The NASAMS is part of a broader commitment of military aid, totaling 500 million Canadian dollars (about $358 million), that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced for Ukraine on November 14, 2022. Since February 2022, Canada has pledged 4.5 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $3.2 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine, which includes armored vehicles, artillery, drone cameras, and winter clothing.
In addition to material support, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has played a vital role in transporting military aid to Ukraine, having delivered over 22 million pounds (9.97 million kilograms) of military donations. Furthermore, more than 350 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel are assisting in training the Armed Forces of Ukraine in locations such as the UK, Poland, and Latvia, with a total of 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers having received training from the CAF.
In July, Prime Minister Trudeau announced an additional 500 million Canadian dollars (approximately $356 million) in aid during the NATO Summit.
