I really hope this is another step towards CANZUK; with the fall of NAFTA and CUSMA, the up coming reshaping of NATO, and the potential shrinking of the G7 it is important that we are all ready. Australia is probably working with this in mind, if we do not have some defence treaty with them right now related to CANZUK.
I really do hope CANZUK becomes a thing, the only thing I would not be happy about is the royal family would still have their faces on our currency.
I hope this brings Canada and Australia closer together, but I think it’s just because Australia has been running an over the horizon radar for decades (since the 1960s), and so we have experts on the technology
Edit: I just found this: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-19/canada-snuck-past-trump-buy-jorn-defence-radar/105069292
TLDR: Australia wanted to sell our Jindalee over-the-horizon radar (JORN) to the US, then Trump happened, so now we’re selling it to Canada
i hope so too. australia does look to be pretty doggedly attached to AUKUS, but there’s probably room for multiple alliances
CANZUK is more of an economic thing, like the EU.
Defending the North is mostly about knowing what’s happening up there. Therefore, modern and improved radar and satellite imaging+communication relay are at the basis of a modern defence strategy. Realistically if Russia spend money flying planes above our Northern territory we don’t always need to “answer” within minutes because there is mostly nothing to defend there and a particularly harsh environment. 95 % of the defence of the Canadian North will be done by the weather itself. Of course we need to be able to get there eventually in a few days-week not necessary within minutes-hours. Our logistics to move in our own North need to be better than any adversaries this is the next step after information.
Good job Carney! I was expecting a French submarine purchase but this will do. And, what do I know, maybe French or English hardware will be announced after our soon to be election or need a bit more negotiations?
i would guess linking this with imaging satellites would be particularly useful: spot aircraft with over the horizon radar, and then automagically use that to direct imaging to the area so you can see exactly what’s happening
Not sure how I see this as a benefit to Australia, unless they are looking at it the same way the Chinese were, if they invest in the Arctic even in Canada then they have a stake in the Northern Passage discussions, even though their border doesn’t actually touch the Arctic.
Australia has been running over the horizon radar for decades, I think Australia’s role in this is providing expertise
From over-the-horizon radar on Wikipedia
Another early shortwave OTH system was built in Australia in the early 1960s. This consisted of several antennas positioned four wavelengths apart, allowing the system to use phase-shift beamforming to steer the direction of sensitivity and adjust it to cover Singapore, Calcutta, and the UK. This system consumed 25 miles (40 km) of electrical cable in the antenna array.[7]
Note that the UK is approximately antipodal to Australia
Australia’s current OTH radars covers South East Asia, use half the transmit power of US OTH radar, and have longer range
Ok that makes sense. Thanks for the information.
I just found this: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-19/canada-snuck-past-trump-buy-jorn-defence-radar/105069292
TLDR: Australia wanted to sell our Jindalee over-the-horizon radar (JORN) to the US, then Trump happened, so now we’re selling it to Canada
I would assume Australia would use it to monitor their own seas, rather than the Arctic. They already have a system that watches the sea north of Australia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jindalee_Operational_Radar_Network ), so they have proven experience in the field
They already have a system that watches the sea north of Australia
Okay, that makes sense, and it squares with the CBC article:
Carney acknowledged that the project is not new, but said the partnership with Australia will allow it to be built and deployed “as quickly as possible and as effectively as possible.”
We’re basically teaming up with an ally that has experience getting the job done. Sensible.
There is that. They could also be wanting to implement their own system and helping us update ours is a great way to avoid problems of their own, if the do build one.
When the US attacks Australia, the ICBM are going over the pole.
That would be the other pole.
