Canada has delivered a batch of Armored Combat Support Vehicles (ASCV) in their ambulance variant to Ukraine.
The announcement comes after Ukrainian personnel completed training in Germany to operate the vehicles.
Last year, Canada pledged to send Kyiv 50 ACSVs, shelling out 650 million Canadian dollars ($472.8 million) for the initiative.
The Canadian branch of General Dynamics Land Systems manufactures the vehicles, which will be delivered within three years.
Following the operator and maintenance training on the ACSV, ambulance variant, in Germany, the vehicles were loaded up and sent to Ukraine.
These vehicles will help Ukraine in their ongoing defence of an unlawful invasion to their land #SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/tibGiSfgxX
— CAF with Ukraine (@CAFwithUkraine) October 26, 2024
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The ASCV platform is already in use by the Canadian Army, offering a mix of mobility and protection.
The vehicle is based on the LAV 6.0 (Light Armored Vehicle), which can resist armor-piercing rounds from heavy machine guns and features upgraded electronics and advanced optics, helping operators identify targets more easily.
The LAV 6.0 runs on a robust 450-horsepower engine, reaching up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour.
The new Canadian ASCV is designed for multiple roles, including transporting troops, serving as command centers, handling electronic warfare, and assisting with repairs.
Ottawa ordered a total of 360 ACSVs to modernize its fleet and replace its II Bison and M113 Tracked LAVs in a contract worth 2 billion Canadian dollars ($1.5 billion). It received the first ambulance variants last year.
Canadian Military Aid and Training for Ukraine
Earlier this month, Canada announced a $46-million military aid package for Ukraine, including small arms, ammunition, and protective gear.
This aid is part of a broader commitment of 4.5 billion Canadian dollars ($3.2 billion) for military support to Kyiv since the outbreak of the war with Russia in 2022.
The package includes capacity-building initiatives and Ukrainian crew member training.
Over 330 Canadian staff are currently deployed in the UK, Poland, and Latvia to meet Ukraine’s training needs, having trained 42,000 personnel from the Ukrainian Army.
