Canadian troops in Latvia will soon be protected by a $227 million Swedish-designed short-range anti-aircraft system, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Thursday in Brussels as NATO allies met to assess both the war in Ukraine and perceived threatening moves by Russia.
The Canadian Army has been without a dedicated air defence to protect ground troops from attack helicopters and fast-moving jets for more than a dozen years.
The Liberal government last year ordered a new system be purchased on an urgent operational basis, an avenue to fast-track large equipment purchases.
Ahead of a meeting with his NATO counterparts, Blair announced the deal to buy
