New YORK: Canada and Australia have agreed to jointly develop an Arctic radar missile-detection system worth some $6 billion Canadian ($4.2 billion US), as part of efforts by Ottawa to assert its sovereignty and strengthen its security.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the partnership with Australia on Tuesday during a visit to Canada’s Arctic territory of Nunavut, following stops in Paris and London.
The allies agreed to develop “advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar technology,” a radar system with long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities which will aim to detect and deter threats across the North, Carney’s office said.
The radar system allows for monitoring of broader areas compared with traditional systems.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had an “excellent call” with Carney on Tuesday night, during which he was asked about the “over-the-horizon radar technology that Canada is interested in purchasing from Australia.” “This is a world-leading technology. Australians are smart, we’re good at innovation ... and we want to export whenever possible and this will be a significant export if this deal is finalized,” Albanese told reporters in Brisbane. (DPA)
