Canada to Spend More Than $273 Million on Air Defence, Drones for Latvia Mission, Blair Says

Published on February 15, 2024

Ottawa will spend more than $273 million to obtain new military equipment to safeguard Canadian troops deployed to NATO’s Canada-led Battle Group in Latvia. The federal government is spending $227.5 million for a short-range anti-aircraft system from Saab Canada Inc. and $46 million for counter-drone equipment, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced in a Feb. 15 press release. Mr. Blair said the equipment is being procured on an “urgent basis” and is expected to be delivered later this year. Its acquisition will mark the first time since 2012 that the Canadian Armed Forces will have air defence capability. “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,” Mr. Blair said from Brussels, where he is set to meet with NATO defence ministers....

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