Ukraine to receive NASAMS system from Canada in early 2025

Canada is planning to transfer a modern medium-range air defense system, NASAMS, to Ukraine. This will happen early next year.

This was stated by Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing his interview with CBC News.

According to him, Canada joined the United States order for the production of 10 NASAMS systems in 2023. The weapons manufacturer, Raytheon, has promised to deliver these systems soon.

“Our systems will be included in this tranche, and we will immediately send them to Ukraine,” the minister said.

NASAMS are expected to arrive in Ukraine in early 2025. In July 2022, the United States announced that it was purchasing two NASAMS for Ukraine, and two months later added six more to the order.

However, difficulties later arose. In particular, Canada paid the US government $406 million for the air defense system in March last year. A Defense Ministry spokesperson said the U.S. government had signed a contract with weapons manufacturer Raytheon to produce the system.

But Kongsberg, another company involved in the development of these systems, said it has no contract with either the US or Canada. A Pentagon spokesman did not provide information, instead referring questions to Canadian officials.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 06/09/2024