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Australia’s groundbreaking Jindalee Operational Radar Network has been reaffirmed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in his most recent visit to Australia.
The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), a major defence partnership between the countries, seeks to assist Canada in developing highly advanced, sovereign over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) systems.
The collaboration also emphasises sovereign capabilities in radar science and engineering, something that BAE Systems Australia is committed to delivering for the partnership as the primary contractor for design and manufacturing.
“Defence welcomes the mutual advantages that will flow from further development of the JORN technology through collaborative research and development,” said Air Vice-Marshal Martin Nussio, head of Air Defence and Space Systems Division.
“It serves to strengthen our domestic sovereign defence industry through engagement among Defence, BAE Systems Australia and Canadian and Australian industry partners.”
Currently, BAE Systems Australia is in the process of delivering “major midlife upgrades” to the JORN program, which Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro said is rooted in years of research with the Defence Science and Technology Group.
“These world-leading upgrades, together with new critical technological development, will provide the capability required for the Canadian Arctic OTHR,” Monro said.
“BAE Systems Australia has a long history of involvement in supporting the Defence Science and Technology Group with the development of JORN.”
The OTHR system uses radar frequencies to detect threats from long ranges (up to 3,000 kilometres), as well as low-flying targets.
Originally contracted for development of OTHR systems at Jindalee in Alice Springs, BAE has continued to work with Defence and Canada to work towards the growing production phases of JORN.
“Our government will be working with our longstanding defence and security partner Australia to build a new, long-range, over-the-horizon military radar system,” Prime Minister Carney said in late March when announcing JORN.
“(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.”
Canada and Australia announced a partnership on missile defence in November 2025.
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