Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that Canada is purchasing a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and associated munitions from the United States to donate to Ukraine. This high-priority donation is the first Canadian donation of an air defence system to Ukraine.
A NASAMS is a short to medium range ground-based air defence system that protects against drone, missile, and aircraft attack, with a high success rate. Canada's NASAMS donation will help Ukraine strengthen its air defence systems against destructive air attacks on military sites, civilian critical infrastructure, and population centres.
This donation, valued at approximately $406 million, comes from the additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine that Prime Minister Trudeau announced on November 14, 2022. The donation builds on Canada's longstanding military support to Ukraine, including our training mission - Operation UNIFIER, donations of armoured vehicles, artillery, drone cameras, and winter clothing, and ongoing efforts by the Royal Canadian Air Force to transport Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada, Allies, and partners.
Canada remains committed to providing Ukraine with the military aid that it needs to defend itself from Russia's illegal and unjustifiable attacks, including intensifying Russian air raids.
