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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has shared details of a reported AU$6.6 billion deal to develop an Arctic radar system with Australian assistance.
Carney, who recently came to power after former PM Justin Trudeau, reportedly announced the news that Canada would develop a long-range surveillance and threat tracking system, in a move expected to be less reliant on US tracking systems.
“Today, I’m announcing that our government will be working with our long-standing defence and security partner Australia to build a new, long-range, over-the-horizon military radar system,” he said.
“(The radar) will enable Canada to detect and respond to both air and maritime threats over our Arctic both faster and from further away. It will most fundamentally keep all Canadians safe.”
“Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada intends to partner with Australia to develop advanced over-the-horizon radar technology. This partnership will include developing Canada’s Arctic over-the-horizon radar system, an investment of more than $6 billion that will provide early warning radar coverage from threats to the Arctic,” said an official statement from the Canadian government.
“A key component of Canada’s NORAD modernisation plan, the radar system’s long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities will detect and deter threats across the North. Collaboration with Australia on this critical technology will further deepen our long-standing bilateral defence relationship while supporting Canada’s commitment to strengthening North American defences in partnership with the United States.
“The Prime Minister confirmed the partnership in his call with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, earlier today.”
Canada and Australia had previously announced a partnership on emerging missile defence research in November last year.
Under that project arrangement, Canada and Australia committed to Defence Research and Development Canada and the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group collaborating on research to understand emerging missile threats, as well as develop detection, monitoring, targeting and counter-measure technologies.
Canada and Australia each contributed up to CA$237 million over five years towards the total project arrangement value of CA$474 million (cash and in-kind contributions).
Australia currently uses the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) as a key component of the national defence strategy. JORN comprises three over-the-horizon radars that can detect aircraft and ships between 1,000 and 3,000 kilometres from the northern coastline of mainland Australia.
