Kelowna 
Canada is purchasing an air missile defence system from the U.S. to donate to Ukraine, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced today.
Ministerie van Defensie/Wikimedia Commons
The purchase of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), a short to medium-range ground-based air defence system, and associated munitions from the United States will cost approximately $406 million.
As per the news release, the funding comes from the $500 million in military aid to Ukraine that Prime Minister Trudeau announced on November 14, 2022.
This is the first Canadian donation of an air defence system to Ukraine.
The federal government says the NASAMS donation will help Ukraine strengthen its air defence systems against destructive air attacks on military sites, critical civilian infrastructure, and population centres.
Regarding the donation, Anand said, “Canada will continue to collaborate with the United States, as well as other Allies and partners, to address Ukraine’s defence priorities in the short and long term – including with high-capability equipment such as the NASAMS.”
Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
Yesterday, the federal government finalised the purchase of 88 F-35 jets to replace aging CF-18s.
