Canada confirms purchase of 26 HIMARS rocket launchers from U.S. government
Posted on: Aug 26, 2025 14:45 IST | Posted by: Cbc
A small o'er a month after the Pentagon revealed it had ordered a great deal of M142 heights Mobility artillery unit Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for several allied countries, including Canada, the Liberal government has now publicly acknowledged the purchase.
Defence Minister David McGuinty, in a statement on Tuesday, said 26 of the highly sought artillery systems will be acquired for the Canadian Army.
The $2.6-billion purchase is being made directly from the U.S. Government and includes a preliminary operational stock of munitions, spare parts, training and support services.
Delivery of the weapons system is expected to begin in 2029.
The U.S. Department of War, on its contracting website in late April, said it had signed a $1.1-billion US contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture HIMARS for the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Sweden and Taiwan.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, in last year's federal election, promised to diversify where Canada purchased its military equipment, noting that it was unacceptable that upwards of 70 cents of every Canadian defence procurement dollar was being spent in the United States.
In the statement on Tuesday, the Department of National Defence said the decision to buy the HIMARS through a sole-source contract in the U.S. Was made following "a rigorous evaluation process" and that the system "was identified as the only solution that best met Canada's operational and technical requirements."
The statement said that there is currently no Canadian manufacturer for the HIMARS launcher system or associated long-range missile capability.
Lockheed Martin, as part of the contract, will "undertake meaningful business activities and invest in Canadian industry to support the growth of Canada's defence sector," the statement said.
"Canada's Armed Forces must have the capabilities required to meet today's threats and tomorrow's challenges," McGuinty said in a statement. "The long-range missile capability is a critical step in supporting our military so it remains ready and equipped to protect Canadians and support our allies and partners when needed."
Industry Minister Mélaine Joly said the federal government will require the company to invest directly in Canada's economy by strengthening the industrial base and integrating Canadian firms into global supply chains.
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