Canada Transfers 40,000 CRV7 Missile Engines to Ukraine

Canada has delivered 40,000 engines for 70-mm CRV7 unguided aircraft rockets to Ukraine, according to footage released by the Canadian Armed Forces’ Operation UNIFIER.

The video, published on X, shows the unloading of large containers presumed to be filmed at a European port, marking a visible stage in Canada's ongoing military support to Ukraine.

The shipment includes only the engines, not the warheads. Canadian authorities have cited safety concerns during transport and a lower inventory of usable warheads as reasons for the separation. The Canadian Department of National Defence previously confirmed that the number of operational warheads was limited compared to the stockpile of engines.

The transfer follows discussions that began in February 2024, when the Conservative Party of Canada proposed supplying decommissioned CRV7 stocks to Ukraine. At that time, it was revealed that the Canadian Armed Forces still possessed more than 83,000 CRV7 missiles, which had been taken out of service in the early 2000s. Although a disposal contract had been signed in 2021, the process was later suspended. Also in February, Ukraine formally requested to receive the CRV7 rockets.

The CRV7, developed in the 1970s by Bristol Aerospace, is a 70-mm unguided rocket system compatible with both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Originally equipped with high-explosive fragmentation warheads such as the M151, the CRV7 series expanded to include smoke, illumination, training, and various anti-armor options. Some variants are known to have pierced the armor of T-72 tanks, and the line includes warheads designed for both anti-bunker and anti-personnel roles.

Although warheads are not included in this shipment, some of the transferred engines could be repurposed. Ukrainian forces may use them to develop improvised launch systems or integrate them into drone platforms, adapting the engines to new battlefield requirements.