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National Defence signs technology partnership arrangement with Australia for Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar

National Defence

News release

July 17, 2025 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

On June 20, 2025, representatives of the governments of Canada and Australia signed a landmark technology partnership arrangement, a critical milestone in the rapid development and deployment of Canada's A-OTHR system.

Through this arrangement, Australian industry partners will work with Canadian companies to build expertise and capacity in Canada, grow our domestic sovereign defence industry, support high-paying Canadian jobs, and help Canada scale up its own radar system and technology.

Canada's Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) system is a key component of Canada's North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization plan and will provide advanced early warning, enable faster detection and decision making by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for airborne threats, and provide long-range surveillance to meet Canada's domestic and continental security needs.

After careful consideration, Canada determined that a technology partnership with the Government of Australia, which currently operates one of the most advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar capabilities in the world, would provide the best solution for strengthening CAF domain awareness of Canada's northern approaches. It will also quickly deliver a crucial capability to the CAF and NORAD commanders.

The first stage of the A-OTHR program will deliver an initial capability by the end of 2029.

Quotes

"Defending and asserting our sovereignty in the Arctic is becoming ever more important as our adversaries are increasing activity the region. This arrangement with Australia will help advance delivery of the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar system. A-OTHR is a key component of Canada's NORAD modernization plan as it enhances our ability to detect and respond to threats in the North."

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

"The Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar system is a vital step in strengthening Canada's ability to defend its territory and assert its sovereignty in the North. By significantly enhancing long-range detection and domain awareness, this capability will ensure the Canadian Armed Forces and NORAD remain prepared to address emerging threats and safeguard our nation and continent."

General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

"This technology partnership with Australia represents a significant milestone in Canada's efforts to modernize its threat detection capabilities and enhance its ability to deter and defend against threats to Canada and North America."

Ross Ermel, Assistant Deputy Minister (Digital Services) and Defence Chief Digital Officer, National Defence

Quick facts

• In March 2025, the Government of Canada announced its intent to partner with Australia to further develop the technology to our mutual advantage and work closely with the United States (U.S.) to verify the interoperability of Canadian and U.S. solutions.

• As noted in Canada's defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is committed to improving the CAF's ability to detect threats earlier by modernizing its surveillance systems, bolstering Canada's Arctic security, and unleashing its Northern economic potential.

• A-OTHR will be a key contribution to the defence of North America through NORAD, the only binational command of its kind in the world and the cornerstone of Canadian and U.S. defence cooperation. NORAD provides aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for the defence of North America.

• Through NORAD modernization, Canada is investing in enhanced surveillance, command, control, communications, research, and development including modernized air weapons systems and infrastructure.

• A-OTHR can conduct surveillance at far greater ranges than regular radar technology as it bounces radar beams off the ionosphere to see around the curvature of the Earth.

• Canada's A-OTHR program will leverage the same core technology and operational principles as Australia's Jindalee Operational Radar Network, with modifications to address the unique challenges of Arctic surveillance.