Aiexpress – Canada announced on Monday that it will be donating hundreds of drones to Ukraine in order to support the country’s ongoing efforts to fend off Russia’s unprovoked invasion. Defense Minister Bill Blair made the announcement as Ukraine approaches the second anniversary of the conflict.
The donation comprises 800 SkyRanger R70 multi-mission unmanned aerial systems valued at over $70 million. Blair emphasized that this contribution will aid Ukraine in its courageous efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression.
“In a statement, Canada reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unlawful invasion, standing firmly in defense of freedom and democracy. Working in collaboration with our allies and partners, we remain committed to providing Ukraine with the necessary military aid to effectively combat and emerge victorious in this conflict.”
According to the statement made on Monday, Ukraine will be provided with the necessary drones to detect and identify Russian targets. The announcement emphasizes Canada’s commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.
Canada has recently made another significant contribution to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group Air Force Capability Coalition. This new contribution amounts to $45 million and aims to assist Ukraine in establishing a sustainable F-16 fighter aircraft capability. This comes less than a week after Canada announced its commitment to support Ukraine in strengthening its defense capabilities.
The drones being donated are manufactured by Teledyne FLIR in Waterloo, Ontario, and are being financed through the $370 million military assistance package earmarked for Ukraine, which was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Kyiv in June 2023.
Blair highlighted that the newly acquired drones serve as a valuable addition to the existing fleet of Canadian-made high-resolution drone cameras that were previously donated to Ukraine. These advanced drones possess the ability to identify individuals, vehicles, and heat sources from a significant distance, even in challenging conditions such as darkness and inclement weather.
Defense officials claim that the multi-rotor UAVs have the capability to carry payloads weighing up to 3.5 kilograms, which includes munitions.
Canada has proven to be a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invaders. Since February 2022, Canada has donated over $1.7 billion in aid. This assistance includes a range of equipment, such as Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armored combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, and M777 howitzers.
