AUSTRALIA SIGNS HISTORIC $2.5 BILLION RADAR DEAL WITH CANADA

The agreement is the largest defence export deal in Australian history. The advanced over-the-horizon radar technology will help Canada monitor aircraft, vessels and potential threats across the Arctic

Australia has signed a $2.5 billion defence agreement with Canada for the export of advanced long-range radar technology, marking the largest defence export deal in the nation’s history.

The government-to-government agreement will provide Canada with an Over-the-Horizon Radar, known as OTHR, based on technology developed through Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network, or JORN.

Canada will use the system to strengthen surveillance across the Arctic, a region of growing strategic and military importance.

The radar will allow Canadian authorities to detect and track aircraft, ships and other potential threats at distances of up to approximately 3,000 kilometres.

Australia’s largest-ever defence export

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the agreement as a major demonstration of Australia’s technological and industrial capability.

“Australia is a world leader in over-the-horizon radar technology, and this agreement showcases Australian innovation,” Albanese said.

The Prime Minister also said the deal represented a further strengthening of relations between Australia and Canada, two countries linked by longstanding military cooperation, shared strategic interests and membership of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

Defence Minister Richard Marles described the agreement as a historic moment for Australia’s defence industry.

“This is the largest defence export agreement in Australian history,” Marles said, highlighting the growing security partnership between Canberra and Ottawa.

How over-the-horizon radar works

Traditional radar systems are generally limited by the curvature of the Earth and can only detect objects within a direct line of sight.

Australian-developed OTHR technology instead uses high-frequency radio waves directed towards the ionosphere. The waves are reflected back towards the Earth, allowing the system to monitor areas far beyond the reach of conventional radar.

This capability makes it possible to detect aircraft flying at low altitude, ships and other objects located thousands of kilometres from the radar installation.

Australia’s JORN system has operated for decades through facilities located in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, providing extensive surveillance of the country’s northern approaches.

Protecting the Arctic

Canada will use the Australian technology to develop its Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar capability.

The Arctic covers approximately 40 per cent of Canada’s landmass but is sparsely populated and has limited infrastructure.

Melting ice, the opening of new shipping routes and increased military activity by Russia and other powers have made the region increasingly important for Canadian and North American security.

Canadian officials have said the radar will form part of a wider network of surveillance and communications systems.

The objective is to improve Canada’s ability to detect, understand and respond to military and maritime activity across the Arctic and the northern approaches to North America.

The system will also contribute to the modernisation of NORAD, the joint aerospace defence command operated by Canada and the United States.

Around 300 highly skilled jobs

The agreement is expected to support approximately 300 highly specialised technical jobs in Australia.

BAE Systems Australia will serve as the principal industrial partner and is expected to formally begin work on the Canadian radar capability from July 1, 2026.

The project will also involve the Australian Department of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Group and a number of companies across the national defence supply chain.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy described JORN as a major Australian success story, transforming decades of scientific research into one of the most significant commercial opportunities ever secured by the country’s defence sector.

The partnership will also include joint research and development activities aimed at improving the technology and adapting it to the particular geographic and atmospheric conditions of the Arctic.

The beginning of a broader partnership

The Australian government has indicated that the $2.5 billion agreement represents only the first stage of a broader defence partnership between Australia and Canada.

The two countries intend to explore further opportunities for joint development, strengthen ties between their defence industries and improve the interoperability of their armed forces.

The first international export of Australian OTHR technology is therefore not only a major economic achievement, but also an important strategic success for Canberra.

Australia is increasingly positioning itself not merely as an importer of advanced military systems, but as an exporter of sophisticated defence technology developed domestically.

With the Canadian agreement, radar technology originally created to protect Australia’s northern approaches will now become a key component of Arctic and North American defence.

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Australia and Canada sign a $2.5 billion over-the-horizon radar agreement, the largest defence export deal in Australian history.

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