Canada is quietly locked into a HIMARS deal without a formal announcement. This situation raises questions about military procurement transparency. The Pentagon recently announced a $1.1 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture M142 HIMARS for several allied countries, including Canada.
The deal will produce a total of 17 HIMARS units, which are expected to be completed by the end of April 2028. Canada initially expressed interest in acquiring 26 HIMARS systems. The U.S. State Department granted Canada the green light for this potential purchase last October.
The estimated cost of the HIMARS deal for Canada is approximately $2.4 billion. HIMARS systems are essential for defending troops in Latvia and are critical for the overall modernization of the Canadian Army.
Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright stated, “The HIMARS system is the long-range precision strike system that we need for land operations.” The Canadian Army commander has indicated that these systems are an absolute necessity for effective land operations.
Other countries have also made significant HIMARS purchases. Australia has selected the PrSM-HIMARS combination for maritime strike capabilities, while Estonia ordered three additional units in April and Sweden’s request for 20 was approved in March. Taiwan also recently unveiled contracts worth $3.9 billion for HIMARS orders.
As Canada moves forward with this acquisition, uncertainties linger regarding the exact number of HIMARS systems that will be delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces. Additionally, no timeline has been shared regarding when these units will arrive.
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