The Pentagon has announced a finalized contract for the sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Canada, signaling a significant step in bolstering the Canadian Army's long-range precision strike capabilities. The $1.1 billion contract, secured with U. S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, includes the manufacture of HIMARS for Canada, Australia, Estonia, Sweden, and Taiwan.
The agreement, finalized in January but unannounced by the Canadian government, has raised eyebrows given Prime Minister Mark Carney's promises to reduce reliance on U. S. military equipment. Defence expert Dave Perry suggests the silence may stem from a desire to avoid political backlash ahead of the unveiling of Canada's defence industrial strategy, which emphasized domestic procurement. The purchase aligns with the Canadian Army's push for the Ukraine-tested HIMARS to fill a critical long-range strike gap, deemed essential for defending troops in Latvia and modernizing the military.
The U. S. State Department had approved the potential sale of 26 HIMARS to Canada in October 2025, estimating the deal at $1.75 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated that the sale would improve Canada's ability to meet current and future threats, enhancing its contributions to collective hemispheric defense and NATO efforts in Europe. The systems are expected to be completed by April 2028.
Canada's increased defence spending has allowed it to meet NATO's 2% of GDP target, with investments directed towards military personnel, equipment, and infrastructure. The acquisition of HIMARS reflects a broader effort to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces and enhance its interoperability with NATO allies.
