Canada–Australia Radar Agreement (A-OTHR)

Canada–Australia Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Agreement is a defense cooperation agreement signed on 22 June 2026 in Canberra between the Government of Canada and the Commonwealth of Australia to procure an over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) system that will provide Canada with Arctic surveillance capability. The agreement is valued at 2.5 billion Australian dollars and has been recorded as Australia’s largest defense export to date.^【1】

The agreement was signed on 22 June 2026 in Canberra during an official ceremony by Stephen Fuhr, Minister of State for Defence Procurement on behalf of Canada, and Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence on behalf of Australia. In addition to this framework agreement, the Government of Canada signed an OTHR Rights Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia and BAE Systems Australia, a comprehensive Industrial and Technological Benefits Agreement with BAE Systems Australia, and a production contract between Australia and its subcontractor BAE Systems Australia. The signing ceremony marked the transition of the A-OTHR program from the planning phase to the delivery phase.^【2】

The A-OTHR program aims to provide Canada with a long-range surveillance capability to detect and track airborne threats approaching through the Arctic and northern approaches. Unlike conventional radar systems, OTHR technology uses the ionosphere to refract radar signals, enabling detection beyond the curvature of the Earth and over significantly greater ranges.^【3】

The system is based on the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), which consists of three long-range over-the-horizon radars located in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, providing wide-area surveillance over ranges of 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers. JORN is operated by the Royal Australian Air Force from the Battle Space Surveillance Centre located at Edinburgh Base in South Australia.^【4】

The value of the agreement is set at 2.5 billion Australian dollars, covering the procurement of the radar system; the total A-OTHR program, exceeding 6 billion Australian dollars, also includes infrastructure, installation and integration costs. The program timeline is as follows: In June 2022, Canada announced major investments for NORAD modernization; on 18 March 2025, the Canadian Prime Minister announced a plan to invest over 6 billion dollars in the A-OTHR program; on 22 June 2026, Canada, Australia and BAE Systems Australia formalized their agreements; on 1 July 2026, BAE Systems Australia is scheduled to commence work on the program; the system is expected to achieve initial operational capability in December 2029.^【5】

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the agreement reflects "Australia’s global leadership in over-the-horizon radar technology and its deep cooperation within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership." Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles noted that the agreement constitutes "Australia’s largest defense export deal in history and reflects the long-standing friendship between the two nations." Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy described JORN as a success story for Australia and emphasized that BAE Systems Australia has played a "central role in reinforcing its global leadership in OTHR technology."^【6】

The Industrial and Technological Benefits Agreement signed under the accord requires BAE Systems Australia to maximize the involvement of Canadian industry throughout the procurement and sustainment of the A-OTHR capability, with the expectation of strengthening Canada’s defense industrial base. The agreement is reported to support approximately 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in Australia.^【7】

Under the A-OTHR arrangements, information and technology sharing will occur between Canada, Australia and BAE Systems Australia, with both governments held responsible for safeguarding sensitive information, technology and intellectual property.^【8】