Canada is quietly locked into a HIMARS deal without a formal announcement, raising concerns about military procurement transparency. The Pentagon disclosed a $1.1 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture M142 HIMARS systems for several allied nations, including Canada.
As of early Tuesday, the contract involves the production of 17 HIMARS units. These are expected to be completed by the end of April 2028. Canada has expressed interest in acquiring a total of 26 HIMARS.
Last October, the U.S. State Department approved Canada’s request to purchase the systems. The estimated cost for Canada’s HIMARS deal is around $2.4 billion.
The Canadian Army commander emphasized that the HIMARS system is crucial for land operations, stating, “The HIMARS system is the long-range precision strike system that we need for land operations.” This acquisition aligns with Canada’s military modernization efforts.
Key facts about the HIMARS deal:
- The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps also utilize HIMARS systems.
- Australia has chosen the PrSM-HIMARS combination for maritime strike capabilities.
- Estonia ordered three additional HIMARS in April 2023; Sweden’s request for 20 units was approved in March.
Officials have not confirmed how many HIMARS systems will actually go to the Canadian Armed Forces. Additionally, any potential delivery timeline for these units remains unclear. The situation raises questions about transparency in defense procurement processes.
Lockheed Martin has secured significant contracts globally, including $1.13 billion to produce HIMARS for the U.S. and five allied countries. Taiwan recently unveiled weapons procurement contracts with the U.S., including orders for HIMARS worth $3.9 billion.