Canada to donate $3M to Ukraine drone production, buy more ammunition
Global News
The U.S. also announced its largest package of military aid to date, valued at US$6 billion, at the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
Canada will donate $3 million to support drone production in Ukraine, officials said Friday as western allies committed billions of dollars in additional aid for Kyiv to fight Russia’s invasion.
Defence Minister Bill Blair said the financial assistance is being made in collaboration with the United Kingdom. It marks the first time Canada, which has already committed to sending hundreds of drones to the warfront, is contributing directly to the Ukrainian defence industry.
Blair also announced a previously announced donation of more than 800 SkyRanger surveillance drones built in Ontario will get a top-up of 100 more drones.
Ottawa will also contribute an additional $13 million for the Czech Republic’s effort to quickly provide ammunition to Ukraine, on top of $40 million already spent on the initiative.
The announcements allocate funding committed last year when the Liberal government pledged $500 million in military support.
Blair made the announcements alongside allied defence leaders at a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries. The meeting fell on the second anniversary of the group, which U.S. Defence Secretary Austin said Friday has “moved heaven and earth” since April 2022 to source millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armoured vehicles and even jets to help Ukraine rebuff Russia’s invasion.
Austin used the occasion to announce the United States’ largest military aid package for Ukraine to date, at a cost of US$6 billion, which will include critically-needed Patriot missiles for Ukraine’s air defence systems.
The package also includes more munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and additional gear to integrate Western air defence launchers, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing weaponry, much of which still dates back to the Soviet era. Additionally, it will include High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, as well as Switchblade and Puma drones, counter drone systems and artillery.
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