Canadian troops in Latvia have been buying their own ballistic helmets with better ear protection and are looking at their allies with envy as Danish soldiers arrive with more modern Canadian-made weapons.
Canadian troops in Latvia are grappling with more urgent equipment shortages as well. The battlegroup of roughly 1,500 soldiers, including more than 700 Canadians, lacks modern anti-tank weapons, systems to counter drones and a dedicated short-range air defence system to guard against helicopters and attack jets.
"This was only exacerbated by the fact they were carrying more advanced Canadian-made Colt Canada rifles, mounting more advanced Canadian Elcan DR sights, and the fact that most of the systems our soldiers lacked were easily available on the open market and not some sort of closely guarded technology."
A cutting-edge military helmet manufactured by NP Aerospace, which has a contract with the federal government to provide new ballistic helmets. In a written statement, DND spokesperson Jessica Lamirande said procurement projects are underway to provide soldiers with more modern tactical helmets, vests, boots, "converged rain suits, sunhats and hybrid combat shirts."DND awarded a contract in February for better helmets with ear protection for so-called "light forces" . It says it will leverage what it learned from that contract when it comes time to replace all general-purpose helmets across the army.
The DND statement did not directly address the complaints of soldiers or explain why it has taken more than three years to address concerns about hearing loss — which is accounting for an increasing number of disability claims coming before the Department of Veterans Affairs."Acquiring hearing protection for soldiers is a complex undertaking as it must balance noise reduction, weight, and the ability for users to effectively communicate.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China defends buzzing American warship, Canadian frigate in Taiwan Strait | CBC NewsChina's defence minister defended sailing a warship across the path of an American destroyer and Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Strait, telling a gathering of some of the world's top defence officials in Singapore on Sunday that such so-called 'freedom of navigation' patrols are a provocation to China.
Read more »
Inside the fundamentalist Christian movement that wants to remake Canadian politics | CBC NewsA fundamentalist Christian movement that gained momentum in Canada by challenging pandemic public health restrictions is now increasingly trying to become involved in electoral politics.
Read more »
Rick Steves: An Ærø-dynamic Danish bike rideÆrø is the kind of island where baskets of strawberries sit in front of farmhouses — for sale on the honour system. And most people here don’t bother locking up their bikes.
Read more »
Underground Railroad Cemetery project unearths lost gravestones of freedom-seekers | CBC NewsKeeping alive the stories of people who fled slavery in the U.S. is more than just preserving history — for some, it’s deeply personal.
Read more »
Climate change is fuelling a spike in Lyme disease cases across Canada | CBC NewsCanadians need to be more vigilant against the rapid growth in the number of Lyme disease cases across the country, as climate change fuels an explosion of tick populations and new hotspots for infection continue to emerge from coast to coast.
Read more »
4 children found unresponsive after a fishing trip on Quebec's North Shore | CBC NewsFour children were found unresponsive on the shoreline in Portneuf-sur-Mer on Quebec's North Shore on Saturday, Quebec provincial police said, though they could not yet confirm their health statuses.
Read more »