Send 800 Drones, Canadian Defense Minister: We Will Continue To Provide Military Assistance To Ukraine To Win This War

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said his country would donate more than 800 multi-mission SkyRanger R70 drones to Ukraine, to win its war against the Russian invasion.

Teledyne's drone at Waterloo, Ontario, is worth more than 95 million Canadian dollars according to the ministry, with funding sources taken from Canadian $ 500 million in military aid Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during a visit to Kyiv last year.

"Today's announcement ensures Ukraine has the drones needed to detect and identify targets, which are important for Ukraine's ongoing struggle. Canada will support Ukraine as long as necessary," Defense Minister Blair said.

Since February 2022, Canada is known to have provided more than $9.7 billion in aid to Ukraine, including more than $2.4 billion in military aid, Canada's Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Recently, in a meeting with NATO allies in Brussels on February 14, Defense Minister Blair said Canada would donate more than 60 million Canadian dollars to Ukraine.

Citing the Canadian Government website, the country-made SkyRanger R70 drone has an automated and autonomous navigation system, allowing it to carry various camera and payload systems to detect and identify targets.

This ability will help Ukrainian operators recognize any individual, vehicle, and heat source remotely, especially in dark and bad weather. These multi-rotor drones are one of the best in the world, and can handle a wide range of payloads of up to 3.5 kilograms, including ammunition.

It said the drone was critical to surveillance and intelligence gathering, and could also be used to transport and deliver supplies.

The Canadian government is working with Ukraine on the drone's training and delivery schedule, with the initial shipment expected to begin this spring.

In addition to drones, a number of military aids that Canada has so far sent to Ukraine include the main Leopard 2 combat tank, armored combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, lightweight weapons, M777 howitzers and ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras to winter clothing.