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At a conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on February 26, 2024, with the participation of European leaders and officials, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair outlined Canada's commitment to strengthening its defense production capacity.
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Canada has pledged C$4,4 million (US$3,3 million) to increase production of 155mm artillery shells, a standard NATO munition that is in high demand by Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. The initiative aims to meet the urgent need for these munitions by accelerating production at IMT Defense in Ingersoll, Ont., and at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems' two plants in Quebec.
During the Ottawa Security and Defense Conference, Minister Blair emphasized continued cooperation with the defense industry to increase munitions production in Canada. While the exact timing of the production increase was not provided, the announcement reflects Canada's proactive stance in supporting Ukraine's defense efforts against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov earlier this year highlighted the critical issue of ammunition shortages, describing it as a "shell famine" that poses a significant challenge to Ukrainian forces two years after a large-scale Russian invasion.
But Canada's support of Ukrainian forces at the front does not end there; Canada also announced its participation in a Czech initiative aimed at supplying Ukraine with 155-mm shells from outside Europe, such as South Korea, Japan and others. The Czech Republic, with the financial support of 18 countries, including Canada, Denmark, Germany, France and Norway, collected 800 artillery shells for Ukraine. This action is aimed at solving the problem of acute shortage of ammunition in Ukraine. Deliveries of the projectiles, including 500 000mm and 155 300mm rounds, could begin in the coming weeks, depending on how quickly the Czech Ministry of Defense can finalize procurement documents.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also signed a €1,1 billion ($1,2 billion) contract in January to supply hundreds of thousands of 155mm artillery shells. Some of these shells are intended for Ukraine, and the first deliveries are expected by the end of 2025, which will be a significant step in international efforts to provide military assistance to Ukraine.
