Canada is ditching a C$800m contract with General Dynamics, saying the ordered equipment is no longer needed.

Canada signed the contract for 66 Stryker vehicles in October 2003 to replace the military’s Leopard battle tanks.

The government also no longer intends to sign a previously announced C$700m contract with Rheinmetall Defence for 33 multi-purpose vehicles.

According to newspaper Le Devoir, a military official says the deals were for equipment the armed forces no longer needed.

By staff writer