Canadian Military Beefing Up

After years of "hitchhiking" rides with allies and relying heavily on dangerous land convoys, Canadian soldiers will soon have new helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles at their disposal.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay confirmed plans to purchase and lease new equipment. Some of the new helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be made available immediately to the soldiers serving in Afghanistan, while other equipment will arrive in the next few years.

"Our government is determined to give the Canadian Forces the tools that they need to do the important work that we ask of them," MacKay said, speaking to reporters at an airport in Saint-Hubert, Que.

"Our Canadian Forces have been in the unfortunate position of not having any other option than hitchhiking rides with allies to move personnel in countries like Afghanistan."

The equipment will meet one of the conditions required for extending the Canadian mission in Afghanistan by two years, to 2011. Parliament voted in March to extend the mission, but said the extension can only happen if the military receive new large helicopters and new UAVs.

MacKay said the helicopters will allow the Canadian military to transport troops and deliver supplies more frequently by air. Land convoys have proven dangerous in Afghanistan — 88 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002, many of them killed by roadside bombs.

MacKay said the UAVs, also known as drones, will also help keep Canadian soldiers off the ground, since the equipment allows surveillance work to be done remotely.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/helicopters-military.html (More in the link)