The first four of 50 new Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) built by Canadian workers for donation to Ukraine are departing for Europe, where members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) will be trained in their use this summer. The first 10 of these vehicles being donated are the ACVS ambulance variant.
On behalf of Defence Minister Bill Blair, Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, visited General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada today to see the initial tranche of departing vehicles and to thank the workers who built them. The vehicles are being transported from London, Ontario for delivery to Europe.
These vehicles are part of a fleet of state-of-the-art armoured vehicles that Canada is donating to Ukraine. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 22, 2023, Canada is investing $650 million over three years to provide Ukraine with 50 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles built in London, Ontario.
These state-of-the-art armoured vehicles will fulfil a wide variety of roles on the battlefield - including transporting troops, providing secure locations for command and control, and enabling medical evacuations. These ACSVs, also used by the Canadian Army, provide a high degree of manoeuverability and protection to their crews and payloads.
The ambulance variant of ACVSs is equipped with medical equipment and an internal layout that will allow for the treatment of a wide range of injuries. These initial 10 vehicles will be delivered to Ukraine by the fall and will enable the AFU to safely evacuate wounded personnel from combat zones.
This donation is part of the over $14 billion in total assistance that Canada has committed to Ukraine since February 2022, including $4 billion in military assistance. Canada has donated Leopard 2 battle tanks, anti-tank weapons, M777 howitzers, artillery ammunition, winter clothing, and more. Canada is also contributing to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintainers in support of Ukraine's incoming fleet of F-16 fighter jets, and participates in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group Armour, Air Force, and Drone Capability Coalitions.
Canada will continue to work closely with its partners and allies to provide Ukraine with the military assistance it needs as it fights Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war.
