Canada Buys Advanced Australian Over-the-Horizon Radar System
Canada has solidified agreements with the Australian government and BAE Systems Australia for the acquisition of an Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) system. This $2.5-billion investment, with an industrial benefits deal to bolster Canada’s defense sector, is crucial for monitoring the Arctic airspace for airborne and missile threats, enhancing NORAD’s capabilities. The A-OTHR, with transmitting and receiving stations in southern Ontario, is anticipated to be operational by 2029, forming a key component of an integrated Arctic surveillance network. Additionally, a second radar unit, the Polar Over-the-Horizon Radar (P-OTHR), is planned for the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
John Q. Hosedrinker