Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to NATO’s Canada-led Battle Group in Latvia will soon have two new defensive capabilities that are being acquired on an urgent basis.

“Canada’s support for the NATO Alliance is steadfast. By investing in Air Defence and anti-drone capabilities for Canadian troops, we are also bolstering the defensive capabilities of the NATO Battle Group in Latvia as a whole. Through our leadership of the Battle Group in Latvia and our many other contributions to NATO – including our current participation in Exercise Steadfast Defender – Canada will continue to work with our Allies to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security.”

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

• Following a competitive procurement process, the Government of Canada has awarded three contracts to Saab Canada Inc. for the acquisition of the RBS 70 NG Soldier Portable Air Defence (AD) System as an Urgent Operational Requirement. These contracts represent a combined value of $227.5 million (excluding taxes), and include acquisition of the systems, supporting ammunition, and in-service support. 

• Canada is also making progress on the Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) project, which will allow the Canadian Armed Forces to defeat threats posed by rocket, artillery, and mortar (RAM) munitions, air to surface missiles (ASM) and bombs, and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) with attack aircrafts and helicopters as secondary targets. The GBAD project is in definition phase. A final Invitation to Qualify was issued on October 5, 2023, and closed on January 12, 2024.

• Following a competitive procurement process, the Government of Canada awarded contracts for the acquisition and support of dismounted and fixed-site systems as part of Phase 1 of the Counter-UAS Project. The contracts have a total combined value of $46 million. The systems being acquired in Phase 1 include:

  • A contract with an estimated value of $2 million (excluding taxes) to TRD Systems of Singapore for ORION-H9 dismounted directional systems;
  • A contract with an estimated value of $19 million (excluding taxes) to CACI Inc. of the United States of America for CACI BEAM 3.0 omni-directional systems; and
  • A contract with an estimated value of $25 million (excluding taxes) to Leonardo UK Ltd. Of the United Kingdom for Falcon Shield fixed-site systems.  

• Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy applies to the Soldier-Portable Air Defence (AD) Systems project, which will ensure that the company will provide meaningful business activities and targeted investments to grow the Canadian defence industry. These economic commitments are estimated to contribute $40 million annually to Canadian GDP and create or maintain 350 jobs annually over a six-year period.

• NATO is a cornerstone of Canada’s international security policy. Canada steadfastly supports NATO’s principle of collective defence and is providing direct support to NATO missions and operations to this end.

• Current Canadian contributions to NATO include:

  • leading the multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia;
  • providing consistent support to NATO maritime forces through the deployment of Royal Canadian Navy vessels in European waters;
  • providing advisory support on institutional reforms to build lasting security and stability through NATO Mission Iraq; and
  • providing CAF personnel support to the NATO-led international peace support operation in Kosovo through Operation KOBOLD.

• Canada further contributes to Euro-Atlantic security through our support to Ukraine. Operation UNIFIER is the CAF’s military training and capacity building mission in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Since 2015, Canada has trained approximately 40,000 members of the AFU under Operation UNIFIER. More than 300 CAF members are deployed under Operation UNIFIER in various roles, including to provide and coordinate training, and to facilitate and deliver military donations to Ukraine in coordination with Allies.

• Beyond providing military training under Operation UNIFIER, Canada has committed over $9.5 billion in total assistance to Ukraine since February 2022, including $2.4 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. 

• Canada is also currently negotiating bilateral long-term security commitments with Ukraine, in line with the 2023 G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. 

Associated links

• Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Operation REASSURANCE
• Prime Minister increases support for key NATO presence
• Roadmap - Scaling the EFP Latvia Battle Group to Brigade
• Minister Blair announces measures to strengthen Canada’s military presence in Latvia
• Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Canadian military support to Ukraine
• Operation UNIFIER
• Industrial and Technological Benefits

Diana Ebadi
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Email: Diana.Ebadi@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca