Promised air defence systems now in Ukraine’s hands, minister says [Video]

Defence Minister Bill Blair says long-awaited U.S.-made missile defence systems that the Canadian government helped to purchase have been delivered to Ukraine.

Blair told the House defence committee Thursday morning that the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Ottawa pledged $406 million for almost two years ago are now in the hands of the Ukranians.

“I can’t give you more information on that because of operational security, but we have been able to deliver at long last — and I think it’s going to make a difference because it will enable them to protect communities,” Blair told the committee.

The government tried to expedite the delivery by piggybacking on a larger purchase the U.S. government was making. The planned $406-million purchase was announced in January 2023 — but as the Department of National Defence told CBC News in September, the federal government didn’t transfer funds to Washington to pay for …