Canada's plan to arm Ukraine with CRV7 rockets progresses amid scrutiny

A few weeks ago, the idea of supplying Ukraine with CRV7 rockets was brought to public attention by Canadian opposition politicians. The initiative received the nod from the authorities, recently confirmed by Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair.

The CRV7 (Canadian Rocket Vehicle 7) represents a Canadian enhancement of the American Hydra 70 rockets, developed during the Cold War. These rockets boast a reinforced engine and warhead, designed for air assaults on Warsaw Pact hangars.

The improved warhead was designed to penetrate hangar roofs, with tests showing the SAPHEI/HEISAP version capable of breaching around 13 feet of earth, 3 feet of reinforced concrete, and a 1-inch steel layer.

In practical terms, this means the weapon can effectively destroy, for instance, enemy field fortifications or vehicles, including armored ones. Although intended for air launch, frontline experiences in Ukraine reveal that similar weapons have also been fired from improvised ground launchers.

Furthermore, the Hydra 70 missile, the basis for the CRV7, has been modified into a cost-effective guided variant known as APKWS. This adaptation involves adding a control module to the missile, enabling guidance based on laser-reflected light.

During the Cold War, Canada produced over 80,000 CRV7 rockets. Retired from active service and stored, the disposal of these weapons commenced in 2021. Current estimates indicate around 8,000 CRV7 rockets remain serviceable.

From many of the others, functional warheads can be salvaged, which, according to Ukrainian sources, are ideal for improvised explosive devices, especially those deployed by drones.