Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will acquire an Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) network through a partnership with Australia. The agreement was confirmed during a call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.
Carney made the announcement while visiting the Arctic, highlighting Ottawa’s concerns over sovereignty as tensions rise with the United States, which has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland. The new radar network, part of Canada’s broader defense strategy, is expected to enhance the country’s ability to monitor and respond to potential threats in the Arctic region.
Canada’s Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar system will represent an investment exceeding C$6 billion. The system will provide long-range early warning radar coverage, detecting and tracking aerial and maritime threats beyond the conventional line of sight.
“A key component of Canada’s NORAD modernization plan, the radar system’s long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities will detect and deter threats across the North,” Carney stated. “Collaboration with Australia on this critical technology will further deepen our long-standing bilateral defense relationship while supporting Canada’s commitment to strengthening North American defenses in partnership with the United States.”
The Australian-designed Jindalee Over-the-Horizon Radar Network (JORN) is considered a cornerstone of Australia’s national defense. The system operates using high-frequency electromagnetic waves that bounce off the ionosphere, allowing it to detect ships and aircraft up to 3,000 kilometers away—well beyond the range of conventional radars.
JORN, which consists of three radars spread across Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia, has been in service for four decades. The system is undergoing a Phase 6 upgrade led by BAE Systems Australia in collaboration with 110 local companies.
Senior Canadian government officials have indicated that the partnership has been positively received within NORAD, though they declined to comment on potential reactions from Washington. The radar acquisition marks a significant move in Canada’s efforts to assert its Arctic sovereignty and enhance surveillance capabilities in a region of growing geopolitical interest.
In addition to the radar investment, Carney announced that Canada would allocate C$420 million to bolster the Canadian Armed Forces’ sustained presence in the Arctic, reinforcing the country’s strategic military posture in the region.
