Canada Invests $273 Million in Advanced Air Defense Systems for NATO Troops in Latvia

Defense News ,Canada :- The Canadian government is spending a lot of money, more than 273 million Canadian dollars (equivalent to $202.6 million), on two new systems to protect its NATO troops in Latvia.

The Defence Minister, Bill Blair, announced that a Swedish company named Saab will be providing the systems. One of them is called RBS 70 NG, and it's for defending against planes, helicopters, and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The contract for this system is worth 227 million Canadian dollars ($168 million).

Saab will also be supplying everything needed for the RBS 70 NG, like firing units, missiles, transport vehicles, and training and support services.

Apart from this, Canada is investing 46 million Canadian dollars ($34 million) in a system to protect against drones. Minister Blair didn't reveal much about it, but it will help detect, identify, track, and defeat small UAVs, making sure that land operations can happen without any problems.

Canadian troops in Latvia will also get some additional equipment like command-and-control tools, sensors, and support and training.

The new anti-drone system is expected to be ready for use in the Canadian military later this year. It's a big deal because it's been a while, since 2012, that the Canadian Armed Forces had dedicated air defense systems to protect against attack helicopters and fast-moving jets.

The Defence Department mentioned that these new tools will make the entire Battle Group stronger, adding to the defense capabilities of soldiers from all the nations involved.

The Defence Minister, Bill Blair, explained that these investments show Canada's strong support for the NATO alliance during times of increased tensions in the region. By putting money into air defense and anti-drone capabilities, Canada is not only protecting its troops but also helping strengthen the defense of the entire NATO alliance. Canada will continue working with its allies to make Euro-Atlantic security stronger, including leading the Battle Group in Latvia and participating in exercises like Steadfast Defender.