Canada will deploy Leopard 2 tank squadron to NATO battlegroup in Latvia

The Canadian Armed Forces will deploy 15 Leopard 2 battle tanks and about 131 personnel to a NATO force in Latvia by next spring, Defence Minister Anita Anand said Friday.

The Canadian Armed Forces will deploy 15 Leopard 2 battle tanks and about 131 personnel to a NATO force in Latvia by next spring, Defence Minister Anita Anand said Friday.

Anand made the announcement from Brussels, where she was meeting with defence ministers from countries that support Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia's invasion.

The tanks and support vehicles will come from Gagetown, N.B., and Edmonton.

"There will be 15 Leopard 2 A4M tanks, two armoured recovery vehicles and then a variety of maintenance and fuel and supply and transport vehicles," Anand said, adding the deployment will consist of a total of 50 vehicles, including the tanks.

The Leopard 2 A4M is one of Canada's main battle tanks. They have been deployed in Afghanistan in the past and have mine-clearing capabilities.

It's expected that the equipment will arrive in Latvia by the fall, with the full group of personnel in place by next spring.

Canada already leads a 10-country NATO battlegroup in Latvia with about 700 Canadian troops.