Canada to procure 190 armoured combat support vehicles, PM says

The Canadian government plans to sign an agreement worth nearly $2 billion with US defence contractor General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada for the construction of 190 armoured combat support vehicles, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced.

Carney said the four-year contract would expand the Canadian Army's fleet of such vehicles from 360 to 550 units, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Globe and Mail.

The newspaper noted that the company had become the first “strategic partner” selected by Ottawa under a new partnership model unveiled in May.

According to the report, more than 600 Canadian suppliers in over 100 communities across the country are involved in the production of the vehicles, while the new partnership is expected to create and sustain more than 6,000 jobs annually over the next eight years.

General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has supplied armoured vehicles to the federal government for almost five decades.

Under the initiative, participating companies commit to investing in Canadian research, supply chains and workforce development. In return, the federal government has pledged to serve as an anchor customer by accelerating approvals and assisting firms in securing export opportunities.

"In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada’s government is ensuring the women and men of our Armed Forces get what they need, when they need it. Through this new partnership, GDLS-Canada will design, build, deliver, and sustain the next generation of armoured combat vehicles here in Canada," Carney said in a statement.

"This partnership gives Canadian industry the confidence to invest, innovate, and grow, keeping skilled jobs and hard-won expertise here at home. That is how we build Canada strong," he added.

The government stressed that the contract would generate economic benefits across the country.

According to the government, production at GDLS-Canada relies on a network of more than 600 Canadian suppliers located in over 100 communities nationwide. These include steelworkers at InterPro in Regina producing advanced armour, engineers at Thales Canada in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, developing night-vision and thermal imaging systems, and electricians at IMP Aerospace & Defence in Enfield, Nova Scotia, manufacturing specialised components.

Ottawa also noted that 89 ACSVs from Canada's existing inventory have already been delivered to Ukraine, while an additional 35 vehicles were pledged earlier this month during the NATO summit in Ankara.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov