Canada sending rocket motors, spare parts to Ukraine in latest aid package

Canada is providing Ukraine with tens of thousands of rocket motors, a small number of surplus warheads, and the decommissioned chassis of nearly 100 armored vehicles as part of its latest military aid package.

On Friday, Defence Minister Bill Blair revealed further details of Canada's contributions, including a $389 million investment over five years to help train Ukrainian F-16 pilots. This funding was originally announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the NATO summit in Washington last July.

This announcement is the latest in a series of donations from Canada, coinciding with a meeting of allied defense ministers in Ramstein, Germany, to assess ongoing military support for Ukraine.

The federal government has been under political pressure from the Opposition Conservatives to send surplus air-to-surface CRV-7 rockets, which have been in storage and are no longer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force. These rockets, dating back to the 1980s, were awaiting disposal. The Department of National Defence determined that only the motors were fit for donation, with over 2,100 already shipped.

Blair stated that an additional 80,840 rocket motors and 1,300 warheads will be sent to Ukraine through Poland over the next few months.

In addition, Canada will donate decommissioned chassis from 29 M113 armored personnel carriers and 64 Coyote light armored vehicles, previously used by the Canadian Army. These vehicles will be broken down by Ukrainian forces and used for spare parts in other donated vehicles.

Several countries have also provided M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, but maintaining them has been a challenge.

Last spring, Oleksandra Ustinova, a leading member of the Ukrainian parliament, called on Blair and other Canadian leaders to provide more support, including donations of decommissioned armored vehicles. Ustinova, who chairs Ukraine’s special parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, expressed her willingness to accept even older, less functional vehicles.

"Ukrainians are ready to take even junk, tear it apart, and make one out of three machines. This is something that can protect our soldiers," Ustinova said.

Blair also discussed Canada’s role in leading the F-16 fighter training program for Ukraine. Following the donation of F-16 fighter jets from European allies, training programs were launched to prepare Ukrainian pilots for these aircraft. Canada’s support includes advanced pilot training, necessary equipment, and aid for Ukrainian airbases and aircraft.

Six F-16s have been seen in Ukrainian skies this summer, although one was recently lost in a crash, which also claimed the life of its pilot.