Ukraine conflict: Germany pays for US HIMARS for Kyiv, Canada provides…

Germany will pay for three US HIMARSs for Ukraine. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced during a visit to Washington, DC on 8–9 May that Berlin would pay for US High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) for Ukraine. Germany will pay for three HIMARSs from US stocks.

During Pistorius's visit to Ottawa on 10 May, Canadian Minister of National Defence Bill Blair signed an agreement with his German counterpart to contribute CAD76 million (USD55.6 million) to the Immediate Action on Air Defence (IAAD) initiative. Launched by Germany in April, the initiative pools money and resources from the international community to quickly source and deliver air-defence systems for Ukraine.

The Netherlands is contributing EUR150 million (USD162 million) to the IAAD.

Germany is providing an additional Patriot air-defence system to Ukraine. This is in addition to two already supplied.

The Canadian Ministry of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) said in a press release on 10 May that CAF members are part of the Security Assistance Group–Ukraine in Wiesbaden, Germany, helping to facilitate military aid transfers to Ukraine, align future donations with Ukrainian requirements, and plan for immediate and longer-term training of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Since February 2022 Canada has committed over CAD4 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, including Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, M777 towed howitzers, artillery shells, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Canada is also contributing to multinational training of Ukrainian pilots and maintenance and support of Ukraine's F-16s.

Since March 2022 the Royal Canadian Air Force has been participating in the delivery of military aid to Ukraine donated by Canada, allies, and partners.

For more information on HIMARS, please see