The Canadian Army is moving forward with plans to acquire a U.S.-made rocket system, despite Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to reduce military purchases from American suppliers. Army leaders aim to finalize a contract by the end of this year for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS.

The Department of National Defence (DND) confirmed that Canada submitted a request to the U.S. government on December 14, 2024, for the HIMARS system. DND spokeswoman Cheryl Forrest stated that this request was a formal step to obtain pricing, availability information, and a delivery schedule for the proposed purchase.

According to defense industry officials, the deal will be processed through the Foreign Military Sales program with the U.S. This arrangement is expected to facilitate the contract's completion by the year's end. Forrest emphasized that DND officials have verified the delivery schedules for all potential solutions that could meet the capability targets of the Canadian Army.

The HIMARS system is designed to enhance the artillery capabilities of the Canadian military, providing advanced precision strike options. The move comes amid ongoing discussions about military procurement strategies and the balance between domestic and foreign equipment purchases.