Canada Wants Helicopter Gunships

The Canadian air force wants to buy helicopter gunships to protect the medium-to-heavy lift transport helicopters it plans on buying. The Canadian defense minister last year revealed plans to purchase 16 medium-to-heavy lift helicopters, presumably Boeing Chinooks. The gunships would provide protection for the Chinooks which the air force feels are too valuable an asset to fly unguarded in dangerous areas. Canadian officials are planning to outfit Bell CH-147 Griffon helicopters, currently in use in the army, with extra armament as well as infrared and optical sensors to detect movement on the ground. The Griffons would be used as escorts for the transport helicopters until  helicopter gunships are procured. For related news