Canada to transfer АІМ-9 missiles to Ukraine
Canada will provide Ukraine with a new military assistance package, which will include ???-9 air-to-air missiles. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Defense of Canada following another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format. The 12th meeting of the Ministers of Defense of the partner states of Ukraine was held on Thursday, May 25.
"Canada will be donating 43 AIM-9 missiles to Ukraine, from CAF inventory," the report said.
AIM-9 air-to-air missile
The Ministry of Defense added that "this will help Ukraine secure its sky against the background of constant Russian strikes". They also noted that the delivery of small arms and ammunition, the transfer of which was announced in April, was already underway. Machine guns, assault rifles, and cleaning kits have already been delivered to Ukraine, while 1 million 5.56mm rounds and 4,800 assault rifles are planned to be delivered in the coming weeks.
Servicemen of the Azov Assault Brigade with Canadian Colt Canada C7 rifles, February 2023.
Photo credits: press service of the Azov Brigade
All 21,000 small arms and 2.4 million rounds from Canada are expected to be delivered to Ukraine by summer. In addition to the weapons supply, Canada will expand the training of Ukrainian military medics in Poland as part of Operation UNIFIER. "Five additional Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) medical trainers will be deployed to Poland to join the seven CAF members already deployed on the advanced medical skills training program for Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel," the Defense Ministry said.
It is expected that the expansion of the medical training mission will double the number of Ukrainian military who will be able to undergo these training. Minister of Defense of Canada Anita Anand also noted that as part of Operation UNIFIER, the Armed Forces of Canada and the National Armed Forces of Latvia began to jointly train Junior Officers for the Armed Forces of Ukraine on May 15. These joint efforts were recently announced during a visit to Canada by Latvian Defence Minister Inara Murniece.
AIM-9 air-to-air missile
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile with an infrared homing head.
In the first version, this missile entered service with U.S. combat aviation back in the mid-1950s.
Various modifications of these missiles are in service with a number of countries of the world. Sidewinders are compatible with most modern fighters, including F-16, F-15, as well as fifth generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters.