National

U.S. secures contract to sell artillery rocket systems to Canada: Pentagon

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 May, 2026 09:28 AM

The Pentagon says it has secured a billion-dollar contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment for Canada and other allied countries.

An online notice this week says the U.S. defence company will create 17 such systems to address the "urgent needs" of their militaries.

Last October, the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of the sophisticated rocket systems and related equipment to Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to hit Canada's NATO defence spending target — two per cent of GDP — through plans that include the acquisition of new aircraft, armed vehicles and ammunition.

Ottawa has said it is looking to add long-range precision strike capability and American officials said in October that Canada asked to buy 26 of the systems and other items.

The notice from the Pentagon says the systems will be complete by April 2028.

Picture Courtesy: AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Backbench Ottawa MP Chandra Arya to run for Liberal leadership

Ontario MP Chandra Arya is the second Liberal to announce he wants to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal party. Arya posted on social media Thursday morning he wants to campaign on running a "small, more efficient government" and on offering "bold political decisions" to solve the country's problems.

Backbench Ottawa MP Chandra Arya to run for Liberal leadership

Ukrainian-Canadians urge ongoing support for country amid political shifts

At a meeting in Germany on Thursday of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced details of $440 million in Canadian funding for Ukraine promised earlier this year.

Ukrainian-Canadians urge ongoing support for country amid political shifts

'On the front line': Quebec planes and B.C. helicopters battle L.A. wildfires

Pascal Duclos, head pilot for the Quebec government's aerial service, said he spent several hours in the air on Tuesday, dumping dozens of loads of water over fire-devastated areas from his plane.

'On the front line': Quebec planes and B.C. helicopters battle L.A. wildfires

Critical incident review launched into death of man who waited in Winnipeg ER

The Manitoba government says a review is being launched into the death of a man who waited eight hours in a Winnipeg emergency department, but it's not clear how much of the review will be made public. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says a critical incident review will look at what happened after the man was brought by ambulance to the Health Sciences Centre early Tuesday morning.

Critical incident review launched into death of man who waited in Winnipeg ER

B.C. orders masks for hospitals, care facilities as flu, respiratory illness increase

Medical masks are again required in British Columbia health-care facilities as provincial authorities say cases of respiratory illness are rising. A statement from B.C.'s Health Ministry says workers, volunteers and visitors in facilities operated by provincial health authorities must wear masks in areas where patients are receiving care in order to prevent the spread of the flu, RSV and COVID-19.

B.C. orders masks for hospitals, care facilities as flu, respiratory illness increase

Two bodies found after vehicle fire extinguished in B.C. regional park

Police say two bodies were found inside a vehicle that had allegedly been set on fire in a regional park in Abbotsford. They say officers and firefighters responded to a burning Mitsubishi Outlander on Jan. 3 in Sumas Mountain Regional Park, and when the flames were put out they discovered what appeared to be human remains.