Yes, I think you raise some very important questions.
I want to point out, first of all, that we are working very hard and, I think, making very significant progress in support of our former presence in Latvia and our NATO commitment. We'll be moving to brigade strength in 2026, which could involve the deployment of up to 2,600 CAF members. We are also acquiring equipment—armoured vehicles, anti-tank weapons, air defence systems and even anti-drone missiles. There are many other accelerated capital equipment requirements they will need that we're working very hard on.
You raise a very important point. One of the things I found most compelling when I first came into this portfolio was the real challenge of making sure our capital equipment is functional and available for use. That includes our planes, ships, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces. As the general has shared with me—and I believe he will share this with you—much of that was not available for use. We recognized that we had to do a much better job of maintaining that equipment. What we put into this program was $9 billion over the next 20 years to maintain that equipment and make it functional. It requires money and certainty that they can get it fixed.
Additionally, for the navy, our Halifax class of frigates required a very significant new investment to make sure it will remain functional and afloat until the surface combatants are delivered.
In this defence policy, we're not just buying new capital equipment. We're making the investment that is absolutely required to maintain what we have while we acquire new capabilities.