Australia has secured its largest-ever defence export agreement, signing a A$2.5 billion (US$1.75 billion) deal to provide Canada with advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) technology. The announcement was made on June 22, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing the agreement as a major milestone in defence trade and a step toward stronger defence industry cooperation between the two nations.
The radar technology, which is based on Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network, is capable of detecting and tracking aircraft, ships, and missiles at distances of up to 3,000 kilometres. Canada plans to use the system to strengthen surveillance and security across its vast Arctic region, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country’s landmass and plays an increasingly important strategic role in North American defence.
Canadian Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr said the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar project forms part of a broader effort to develop an integrated surveillance and communications network for the Arctic. Australia stated that the agreement will create around 300 jobs domestically and marks the first phase of a wider collaboration between the two countries on advanced radar capabilities and Arctic security initiatives.
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