ALBAWABA - Australia and Canada signed a deal for a high-tech long-range Australian radar to be built in Canada facing the arctic.
The radar, classified as an ‘over-the-horizon’ system, works by refracting high-frequency electromagnetic waves off the ionosphere to detect distant objects that are invisible to conventional radars because of Earth’s curvature.
This follows the Canadian PM’s visit to Australia in March, becoming the first Canadian PM to visit Australia in 12 years. During the visit, both PMs agreed to increase cooperation on defense technologies, artificial intelligence and critical minerals - their agreement now coming to fruition; with the Canadian PM stating that he’d chosen the Australian radar over comparable U.S. Technology next door.
Visitors walk in front of the construction of the 'Duga' Soviet over-the-horizon (OTH) radar system near Chernobyl on November 22, 2018.
The first phase of the deal was signed by the Australian Defense Minister and Canadian Secretary of State, deepening their cooperation with the Australian Defense Minister saying in a statement:
“What this really means is that Australia and Canada are now partners in terms of the future development of the Over-the-Horizon Radar,” The Minister told reporters at the Australian Parliament House in the capital Canberra. There is now a very strategic dimension to the relationship,” he added.
The Canadian Secretary, on his part, also stated in a joint press conference:
“As the world adjusts to its new strategic and economic realities, I can’t think of a stronger partner to work with more than Australia,”
This deal marks Australia’s largest defense export to date - beating the previous $700 million dollar deal to provide Germany with 100 Australian-made Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles.
