Erbil, Iraq
2 May 2015
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Iraq in addressing the security challenges that it faces as a result of the barbaric and murderous rampage of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
To this end, on May 2, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced two new initiatives to support security in Iraq. He made the announcement in Erbil during his trip to Iraq. The projects announced today will provide bomb disposal robots and night vision goggles to Iraqi forces fighting ISIS.
More specifically, the two new initiatives, which total $1.95 million, will provide the following:
Title: Bomb Disposal Robots
Government support: $950,000
This project will provide an additional six remotely-operated vehicles, also known as bomb disposal robots. These bomb disposal robots provide operators with the capability to safely detect and detonate a wide array of hazardous threats, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and vehicle-borne (IEDs)s. This initiative will include the training required to operate these robots.
Title: Night Vision Goggles
Government Support: $1 million
This project will provide 200 sets of night vision goggles (NVG). (NVG)s will better enable night operations against ISIS and will allow Iraqi forces to conduct night patrols in greater safety, avoiding potential ISIS ambushes.
Canada is a leading member in the international coalition against ISIS. Canada’s current military contribution against ISIS, known as Operation IMPACT, was recently extended to March 30, 2016. It includes: up to 69 Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel to advise and assist Iraqi forces in northern Iraq; a key aerial enabler force package consisting of approximately 280 aircrew and other personnel, one CC-150 Polaris aerial refuelling aircraft, up to two CP-140 Aurora aerial surveillance aircraft, as required; a strike force package consisting of approximately 320 aircrew and other personnel, and up to six CF-188 Hornet fighter aircraft, participating in coalition air strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria. Canada has provided approximately $10 million in non-lethal equipment to Iraqi forces and transported over one million pounds of military equipment and ammunition donated by allies for Iraqi forces.
As of April 25, 2015, Canadian air assets have conducted 829 sorties over Iraq:
- CF-188 Hornet fighters conducted 540 sorties.
- CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller conducted 140 sorties, delivering some 8,236,000 pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft.
- CP-140 Aurora aircraft conducted 149 reconnaissance missions.
Up to 69 members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces are working with our allies in an advisory and assistance role by providing strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi forces.
