In a move signaling a determined assertion of Arctic sovereignty amid a shifting global security landscape, Canada has announced a significant partnership with Australia to deploy a cutting-edge early warning radar system. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during his inaugural domestic tour to Iqaluit, Nunavut, revealed the initiative to build an Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar system in collaboration with Canada’s “long-standing defence and security partner,” Australia. This project, underpinned by a Canadian investment exceeding $6 billion already earmarked in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernisation plan, aims to bolster Canada’s capacity to “detect and respond to both air and maritime threats over our Arctic, faster and from further away,” ultimately ensuring the safety of all Canadians.
The cornerstone of this enhanced surveillance capability is the acquisition of Australia’s renowned Jindalee Over-the-Horizon Radar (JORN) technology. Described as “world-leading Australian radar technology” and “the most advanced in the world,” JORN represents a significant departure from traditional line-of-sight radar systems. Developed by Australian scientists since the 1970s, this high-frequency, sky-wave over-the-horizon (OTHR) system harnesses the ionosphere to refract radio signals, effectively illuminating targets – be they aircraft or ships – at ranges up to 3,000 kilometres. The returning echoes are then processed into real-time tracking information, a crucial capability for monitoring Canada’s vast and increasingly strategic Arctic approaches.
Prime Minister Carney emphasized the urgency and efficacy the Australian partnership brings to the project, stating it will enable quicker and more effective deployment. This strategic move is accompanied by a new $420 million investment dedicated to safeguarding Canada’s land, water, and sea sovereignty in the Arctic, facilitating a “greater, sustained and year-round” presence of the Canadian Armed Forces in the region. Carney framed the announcement as a strengthening of Canada’s commitment to NORAD, while pointedly acknowledging a divergence in U.S. priorities. With a nod to a more volatile international environment characterized by “increasingly emboldened” adversaries and challenged international norms, Carney asserted, “We cannot and should not look first to others to defend our nation”. Notably, this acquisition follows the return of Donald Trump to the White House and his past pronouncements regarding Canada and Greenland, prompting Canada to seize the opportunity to secure this advanced technology while the U.S. pondered its own procurement.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed discussions with Carney regarding the over-the-horizon radar technology, underscoring the importance of diversifying Australia’s trade relationships. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles indicated that while some procedural steps remain, this deal could become Australia’s largest defence export to date, a significant boon for Australian industry.
While Canada now stands poised to acquire Australia’s “biggest defence export,” it’s worth noting that the United States had previously engaged in discussions regarding the purchase of JORN for its west coast to monitor military activities as far afield as mainland China, though these plans faced uncertainty due to a Pentagon spending review. The United Kingdom has also reportedly expressed interest in the JORN technology. As Canada embarks on this ambitious project in collaboration with Australia, the development and deployment of this advanced Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar system marks a significant step in bolstering its northern defences and asserting its strategic interests in an increasingly contested region.
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