Canada is acquiring new medium-lift helicopters and surveillance drones to satisfy the needs of its troops in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Peter MacKay announced Thursday.
It will lease up to six Russian-made helicopters to meet current operational needs and then buy six new American-made Chinook helicopters, which can transport both troops and equipment.
The move is to address the needs of Canada's mission in Afghanistan which will extend to 2011, MacKay said.
Canada now has 2500 troops based in southern Afghanistan. Commanders began pleading for helicopter support two years ago, and there have been accusations that the government was taking a minimalist approach to supplying troops in Afghanistan.
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