Government of Canada acquiring long-range missile capability for the Canadian Armed Forces
Press Release + Noah Note
June 2, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, the Government of Canada, announced that, in January 2026, Canada and the United States (US) finalized a government-to-government agreement under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program for the acquisition of 26 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, a preliminary operational stock of munitions, spare parts, training, and support services, with deliveries expected to begin in 2029.
The total acquisition cost for LRPS(L) project, including project management, infrastructure, contracts, and contingency, is estimated at $2.6 billion CAD.
As global security challenges continue to evolve, the Government of Canada is advancing investments to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the capabilities required to protect Canadians and contribute to international security. Canada’s 2024 defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, initiated the Long Range Precision Strike (Land) (LRPS(L)) project to acquire advanced long-range missile capabilities.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, HIMARS was identified as the only solution that best met Canada’s operational and technical requirements.
There is currently no Canadian manufacturer for the HIMARS launcher system or associated long-range missile capability. HIMARS is not commercially available, the capability is only available through the United States (U.S.) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program. In support of this acquisition, the Congressional Notification process was completed in Fall 2025. The launcher systems will be paired with long-range munitions capable of precisely engaging targets at distances of more than 300 kilometres, revolutionizing how the Canadian Army conducts operations and supports joint forces on future missions. The systems are also designed to integrate future land-based anti-ship missile capabilities to support the defence of Canada’s coasts, including the Arctic.
This investment will strengthen Canada’s ability to defend its territory, contribute to continental defence and support operations alongside allies and partners.
As part of Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy obligations, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control will undertake meaningful business activities and invest in Canadian industry to support the growth of Canada’s defence sector. Lockheed Martin plans to integrate Canadian companies into global supply chains, invest in Canadian research and development, and support the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
Canada continues to work closely with trusted allies and partners, including the U.S., to deliver critical capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces.
This acquisition represents a significant modernization milestone for the Canadian Army and supports broader investments outlined in Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free.
Quotes
“Canada’s Armed Forces must have the capabilities required to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s challenges. The long-range missile capability is a critical step in supporting our military so it remains ready and equipped to protect Canadians and support our allies and partners when needed.”
The Honourable David J. McGuinty,
Minister of National Defence
“In a rapidly changing security environment, standing still is not an option. The Long Range Precision Strike (Land) project will give the Canadian Armed Forces the ability to engage targets at long range and operate more effectively alongside our closest allies, while responding to emerging threats. And through our Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, we are turning this investment into good-paying Canadian jobs, supporting workers and creating opportunities for industry across the country.”
The Honourable Joël Lightbound,
Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant
“Our government will always use our purchasing power to advance Canada’s economic interests and support the workers and companies that keep our country strong. As part of this procurement, Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy will be applied, which will require the company to invest directly in Canada’s economy by strengthening our industrial base, integrating Canadian firms into global supply chains, and supporting the research, innovation, and small businesses that drive our growth.”
The Honourable Mélanie Joly
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
“Our government is investing in long-range missile capabilities that will deliver the advanced systems we need to ensure our security and readiness in this rapidly changing world. We are committed to equipping the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools they need to protect Canada, while creating opportunities for our economy and good-paying jobs for Canadians.”
The Honourable Stephen Fuhr,
Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
“This capability marks a major step forward in modernizing the Canadian Army. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System will give the Army a mobile, long-range precision strike capability that can be deployed across Canada, including the Arctic, and abroad using existing Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft. When integrated with other modern capabilities—such as self-propelled artillery systems, sensors, and command and control—it will strengthen Canada’s ability to deter aggression, safeguard our sovereignty, and protect Canadians.”
Lieutenant-General Michael Wright,
Commander Canadian Army
Quick facts
The LRPS(L) capability supports Canada’s commitment to meeting North Atlantic Treaty Organization defence spending targets.
The U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales program allows foreign allies and partners of the U.S. to acquire defence articles, services, and training through government-to-government agreements. The FMS program is overseen by the U.S. Department of State and is managed and executed by the U.S. Department of War.
The total acquisition cost for LRPS(L) – including project management costs, infrastructure, contracts, and contingency – is estimated at $2.6 billion CAD.
While the acquisition under the FMS program covers the procurement of equipment and some short-term in-service support (ISS) elements, the long-term ISS solution will be acquired separately.
Canada’s ITB Policy applies to the LRPS(L) project. Under this policy, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is required to provide business activities and investments in the Canadian economy equal to the value of its activities related to the Foreign Military Sale.
Noah Note: I almost forgot there was no official announcement. Anyways, this contract was signed months ago as I know it. Nothing is changing from the plans we have previously discussed. In fact, a production contract was already awarded on the American side!
Anywho, HIMARS will give the Canadian Army something it has not had in about sixty years: a long-range strike capability that goes beyond the reach of traditional artillery. It will also give the Canadian Army its own dedicated anti-ship capability.
It is difficult to overstate just how serious this capability is, and that it is arriving well ahead of the original 2030-2032 timeline. This has been a long time coming, too long in my opinion. I also want to stress that this is not meant as criticism of systems such as Chunmoo.
Chunmoo and PULS are both excellent systems from what I have seen, and Hanwha has finally shown off a single-pod, C130 transportable version of Chunmoo known as the High Performance Rocket System.
However, no one was going to be able to compete with PRSM and the future capabilities it brings. It was also too late for HPRS to enter the market. Perhaps if it had appeared a year or two earlier things would have been more debatable.
Neither Hanwha nor KNDS with Euro-PULS were ever going to offer an 800+ kilometre missile with an added anti-ship capability within the timelines we need. That is not to dismiss what they offer, but for a country like Canada, where range is critical in any decision, having a platform that includes PRSM is too compelling to ignore.
HIMARS is evolving quickly, with several new munitions either already integrated or under study, such as the ground-launched Small Diameter Bomb, LRASM, or Anduril’s ground-launched Barracuda. The M270/M142 family also remains the most widely used group of rocket systems in service with our allies, both in NATO and abroad.
Every factor worked in favour of HIMARS. This is a strong purchase. It will be a game-changing capability and will help complete the long-range strike triad that the Tomahawk-armed River class and the JASSM-equipped CP8/CF35 will give to the Air Force and the Navy, ensuring all three services have their own dedicated long-range strike options.
That is set out in ONSF and further confirmed in Inflection Point. While I do not fully agree with the idea of flying HIMARS into the Arctic to fire PRSM at ships in the Northwest Passage, the Army still has a mandate for Arctic. A2/AD, and the mere possibility of this provides the Army with a deterrence capability in the Arctic.
Perhaps there will be a role for Chunmoo, if it is truly made a domesticated product with vehicles and munitions produced here, however at that time it is only a hypothetical, and not a reality we can accept. There are some who would greatly consider it, but for now it is only a hypothetical.
Still, I wish this was announced sooner. Get it out of the way. Oh well.
Great to see a decision and an advance of the anticipated delivery date. Interesting to note that the press release quoted the August.2024 Defence Policy Update from the "old" government. There's really no shame in the Carney government carrying the DPU forward: no need to re-invent the wheel. And for those who ask of the Carney's government spending promises, "where are the government's plans?", they now have the answer, if in fact it was needed in the first place as the continued relevance of the DPU was pretty obvious, government re-affirmation of it or not. The issue with HIMARs, and indeed all of the long-range fires plans for the air force and navy, concerns guaranteed Canadian access to continued missile supply in the event of conflict. That would have to mean Canadian manufacture of the missiles themselves, which in the age of hypersonic missiles and long-range drones, would increase supply redundancy, very much in the US interest. One would have thought that the Munitions Supply Program (MSP) and the recently announced Canadian Defence Industry Resilience Program would apply to all military consumables, including missiles., There is no mention in the HIMARS announcement of local manufacture being offered as an ITB. Lockheed Martin, we should note, is spending $9.5 million on engine overhauls for Air Inuit as an ITB. Money for a good cause I suppose, but as an ITB, pretty far from any defence or industrial policy objective. On the assumption that Lockheed Martin and other US defence firms (e.g. RTX) are not inclined to offer local manufacture, then it will only be prudent for the Government to look to non-US suppliers for its other missile needs from the likes of MBDA, Kongsberg, Rheinmetall and Hanwha Aerospace.
This will be a great capability... Though I can't fathom what took so long for the official announcement. The only thing I am salty about is yet another heavy truck platform being added to the CAF. IIRC the French are putting M270 dual-pod launchers on a ueavy truck... So it would've been fun to see us do the same to a ZETROS chassis. ... Given the distances & support/survival requirements up North, I remain 99% certain that CC-130 transportability is a gimmick that will not actually be useful up North.