Canadian army seeks bullets for Soviet guns
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/564263
Ammo likely for Afghan weapons, experts say
Jan 09, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (6)
Allan Woods
Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA–The military is looking for more than 2 million rounds of ammunition
for Soviet guns, a curious purchase experts say appears destined for the
weapons of Afghan soldiers under the charge of the Canadian army in
Kandahar.
The Department of National Defence wants to buy more than 1 million bullets
compatible with the Afghan National Army's main rifle, the AK-47, which was
first designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947 and adopted by the Soviet
military two years later.
The Canadian military is also seeking 600,000 rounds that are compatible
with a PK mounted machine gun, another weapon in the Afghan army's arsenal,
and 150,000 9mm bullets designed for Soviet-made Makarov and Stechkin
pistols, according to documents outlining the proposed purchase.
"We certainly don't use them," Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate
committee on defence and national security, said of the ammunition sought.
"I could see us making them available to kandaks (Afghan battalions)."
The procurement comes as the Canadian mission in Kandahar is set to shift
from combat fighting to mentoring and training Afghan soldiers to take up
front line duties.
The Canadians now have four Afghan infantry battalions under the supervision
of military mentoring teams. Except for a donation of 2,500 surplus Canadian
rifles in December 2007, no one contacted by the Star yesterday had ever
heard of the Canadian military bankrolling war supplies for the Afghans.
"I don't think that's an unreasonable thing to have if you're training a
number of kandaks and you expect them to be equipped," Kenny said. "One
thing we know for sure is that the Afghans don't have any money to buy them
themselves."
The Department of National Defence did not respond to a request for
information on the proposed purchase yesterday, and the documents state only
that the ammunition is destined for two military depots in Saskatchewan and
Ontario.
Ottawa estimates the cost of the bullets at more than $1.7 million, and
retired military officials say it would not take long to fire off 2 million
rounds of ammunition with the high-tempo training regime in southern
Afghanistan.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/564263
Ammo likely for Afghan weapons, experts say
Jan 09, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (6)
Allan Woods
Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA–The military is looking for more than 2 million rounds of ammunition
for Soviet guns, a curious purchase experts say appears destined for the
weapons of Afghan soldiers under the charge of the Canadian army in
Kandahar.
The Department of National Defence wants to buy more than 1 million bullets
compatible with the Afghan National Army's main rifle, the AK-47, which was
first designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947 and adopted by the Soviet
military two years later.
The Canadian military is also seeking 600,000 rounds that are compatible
with a PK mounted machine gun, another weapon in the Afghan army's arsenal,
and 150,000 9mm bullets designed for Soviet-made Makarov and Stechkin
pistols, according to documents outlining the proposed purchase.
"We certainly don't use them," Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate
committee on defence and national security, said of the ammunition sought.
"I could see us making them available to kandaks (Afghan battalions)."
The procurement comes as the Canadian mission in Kandahar is set to shift
from combat fighting to mentoring and training Afghan soldiers to take up
front line duties.
The Canadians now have four Afghan infantry battalions under the supervision
of military mentoring teams. Except for a donation of 2,500 surplus Canadian
rifles in December 2007, no one contacted by the Star yesterday had ever
heard of the Canadian military bankrolling war supplies for the Afghans.
"I don't think that's an unreasonable thing to have if you're training a
number of kandaks and you expect them to be equipped," Kenny said. "One
thing we know for sure is that the Afghans don't have any money to buy them
themselves."
The Department of National Defence did not respond to a request for
information on the proposed purchase yesterday, and the documents state only
that the ammunition is destined for two military depots in Saskatchewan and
Ontario.
Ottawa estimates the cost of the bullets at more than $1.7 million, and
retired military officials say it would not take long to fire off 2 million
rounds of ammunition with the high-tempo training regime in southern
Afghanistan.
