Canadian Forces pushing for sole source deal for U.S. weapons as Trump continues attacks on Canada

Canada’s military leadership is pushing for yet another sole source deal for American equipment despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s vow to economically damage this country and eventually annex it as the 51st state.

The Canadian Forces wants the Liberal government to purchase the U.S.-built High Mobility Artillery Rocket System or HIMARS, according to defence industry officials.

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Ukraine has been using HIMARS in combat against Russian forces but Trump was recently able to reduce the effectiveness of the weapon system by limiting the flow of data and intelligence needed for its operations.

Trump has continued his threats against Canada, bringing in tariffs on March 12 against Canadian steel and aluminum. On March 11, Trump said he plans to eliminate Canada’s auto industry, which would throw thousands of Canadians out of work.

The plan being proposed by the Canadian Forces senior leadership would see the purchase of a number of HIMARS built by Lockheed Martin. The sole source deal could be handled through a Foreign Military Sale in which Canada would receive the equipment directly from the U.S. government.

Asked why it was considering a HIMARS purchase from a country that was threatening to annex Canada, Department of National Defence spokesperson Kened Sadiku responded in an email that “the Long-Range Precision Strike (Land) project will significantly enhance Canada’s defence capabilities, both domestically and abroad.

“This project is progressing well and we are expecting to share additional details in the coming months,” Sadiku added in his email to the Ottawa Citizen.

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He noted that Canada’s procurement decisions are based on national security priorities but added that the federal government is “closely monitoring the trade situation in the U.S., and assessing potential impacts to existing projects.”

A 2024 Canadian Forces briefing on the Long Range Precision Fires project, obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, noted that the acquisition of the equipment could be worth approximately $5 billion. The project would involve purchasing launchers, fire control software, munitions and spare parts. The briefing included photos of HIMARS.

The proposed acquisition, as well as other recent Canadian defence purchases, is being questioned by military analysts and Canadian industry officials. One defence industry official, who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution against his organization, said the Canadian military leadership is “tone deaf” to the threat posed by the Americans.

As recently as Feb. 12, Defence Minister Bill Blair downplayed the threat posed by Trump, saying that the president’s talk of annexing Canada is not a “real threat.” Blair’s office did not provide comment on the proposed HIMARS deal.

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At a March 7 technical briefing about the purchase of new Canadian warships, equipped with large amounts of U.S. technology, Canadian defence officials stated military relations between the two nations remains strong. But as analysts have pointed out, such relations are meaningless when Trump is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military.

The Canadian Forces is facing a dilemma in that the U.S. controls much of the technology on its equipment. For instance, the Americans have full control over software and hardware upgrades on Canada’s $19-billion fleet of F-35 fighter jets which are on order. The aircraft are being built by Lockheed Martin in the U.S.

The Ottawa Citizen revealed Feb. 14 that defence industry officials had also warned that the U.S. controls many of the key systems onboard Canada’s new warships, allowing the Americans to hold this country hostage over future upgrades or even the provision of spare parts.

Despite that, under pressure from the U.S., the Liberal government and military have doubled down on ordering American-supplied equipment. In 2023, it ordered almost $30 billion in new military systems, most of those exclusively from U.S. firms.

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That included an $8-billion sole-source deal with Boeing for the purchase of new surveillance aircraft. Previously, Liberal cabinet ministers had claimed Boeing was not an industrial partner that could be trusted. Another $2.5 billion is being spent to purchase drones from a U.S. firm.

The Liberal government had hoped the deals would placate American politicians who raised concerns Canada was not spending enough on defence. But the deals did not alter that criticism.

Canadian defence suppliers have warned that the push by the Canadian Forces to buy American has provided little benefit for domestic firms.

But the Canadian military leadership is close to their U.S. counterparts and is reluctant to shift its focus from America. Some retired Canadian Forces senior officers, such as former chief of the defence staff Gen. Rick Hillier, have voiced support for a Canada that is integrated more closely with the U.S.  On Feb. 15, Hillier went on the social media website X to express his support for Canadian businessman and Trump supporter Kevin O’Leary’s proposal for a common dollar, integrated border and immigration requirements with the U.S.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

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