I will start again.
The addition of this ANA capability will complete the force generation requirement of the Afghan National Army to sustain two operational kandaks and a brigade headquarters on a full-time basis within the Kandahar province. This will considerably improve the Afghan army forces in the province and will also provide Afghanistan with the opportunity to significantly improve the development and security capability of the army.
We are moving from a very scattered ANA presence to a sophisticated, enduring capability. Most of us in uniform are quite excited by what we're seeing here. This is a serious step forward on the security front.
Afghans themselves, senior leaders, have recognized the importance of bringing more Afghan security forces to the Kandahar province. As the numbers increase we will see more of them in the Kandahar province, and this, with additional security, bodes well, and helps beef up our ability to support Afghans and increases development in the full range of activities that we're conducting. It will be a priority for us, for the Canadian Forces who are in the Kandahar province, to work with this brigade and the emerging Kandaks as they come along.
Finally, on May 7 the acquisition of new vehicle-based systems for detecting, investigating, and disposing of explosive threats such as improvised explosive devices and mines was announced. Buried IEDs have become a weapon of choice against the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.
These new vehicle systems will give commanders highly effective tools that they can use to find and neutralize those IEDs that pose a threat to our soldiers. They will not only improve protection for the soldiers and vehicles using the cleared routes, they will also provide high levels of protection to the clearing crews themselves. This is not only helping our soldiers, it will help local Afghans as well, who tend to be the ones who also get hurt or maimed when IEDs go off. These systems will complement the outstanding service of the RG-31 Nyala armoured infantry patrol vehicle.
The expedient route opening capability, EROC, systems will conduct mounted searches for buried improvised explosive devices using three types of highly specialized vehicles: the Husky, the Buffalo, and the Cougar. The systems will be acquired through the United States military. Use in operations has proven highly successful, and we have worked with the U.S. with these systems in theatre. Canada intends to obtain 16 of these vehicles, including six Husky, five Buffalo, and five of the Cougar vehicles.
The Husky provides the detection capability with a land mine overpass capability with a mounted full-width metal detector, enabling the detection of targets located in the roadbed or along the verges—along the side of the road. Once a target has been detected, the Buffalo will use its extended arm and a remote control camera to physically expose the potential target for verification and identification. The Cougar will transport the explosive ordnance disposal operators, and their vast array of tools, including explosive ordnance disposal robots to dispose of the IED.
Mr. Chairman and honourable members, that concludes my update.