"NATO is a cornerstone of Canada's international security policy and today the government announced its intention to rejoin to the Alliance's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) program," the release said.
Canada decided to withdraw from the AWACS program in 2011 following the Department of National Defense’s 2010 Strategic Review. At the time, Canada characterized the decision as a cost-cutting move.
NATO operates a fleet of Boeing E-3 AWACS aircraft, which provide the alliance with airborne command and control (C2), air and maritime surveillance and battle-space management capability, a NATO website said.
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The aircraft was heavily involved in fighting against the Daesh terrorist group (banned in Russia) in Syria and Iraq, according to NATO.
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