Canada has delivered CH-146 Griffon helicopters to Latvia as part of the continued development of the NATO Multinational Brigade, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) informs.
The Canadian side indicates that these helicopters will form an important part of Canada’s contribution to the development of the Multinational Brigade.
Canada’s plans to deploy the helicopters in Latvia were announced late last year by Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair after a meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives).
Blair said that Canada would deploy four Griffon helicopters in Latvia from summer 2024 and Chinooks periodically from autumn 2025.
The Canadian Minister also said that Canada would deploy short-range air defense systems and anti-drone systems in Latvia.
As reported, at the NATO Summit in Madrid in June 2022, Latvia and Canada signed a declaration on the strengthening and further development of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia.
On July 3, a ceremony will took place at the military base in Adazi, marking the launch of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia to brigade level and the establishment of the new NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia, which will consist of more than 3,500 soldiers.
In the coming months, the Allies and Latvia have committed to other measures essential to the transformation of the Canadian-led Multinational Battle Group into a combat-capable brigade. The brigade is expected to reach full combat readiness by 2026.
Canada is the lead nation for the NATO Multinational Battle Group deployed in Latvia, which brings together around 1,900 troops from Albania, Canada, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Northern Macedonia, who rotate duty in Latvia.
A Swedish and Danish contingent will join the force as the battle group expands to a brigade.
Source: BNS
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