Multi-billion dollar deal with Canada secures ‘largest-ever’ military export

Australia will export its leading radar technology to Canada under a $2.5 billion deal.

The over-the-horizon system, known as the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), provides military surveillance of the air and sea.

Defence Minister Richard Marles met with Canada’s secretary of state for defence procurement Stephen Fuhr in Canberra this morning to sign the contract.

“It is far and away the largest defence export that we have ever done,” Marles said.

“Just like Australia, Canada has large areas to surveil, so Canada will use this to engage in surveillance over the Arctic.”

Marles said the deal would add a “very significant strategic dimension” to Australia and Canada’s relationship.

“In total, this will support 1000 direct and indirect jobs,” he said.

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Canada and Australia will develop new military radar system in the Arctic

“But more significantly than that, what this really means is that Australia and Canada now partners in terms of the future development of the over-the-horizon radar.

“Just as Canada has benefited from decades of investment by Australia in this technology, similarly moving forward we will be the beneficiary of Canada investing hundreds of millions of dollars in [the program] to develop this technology going forward.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney met during a visit to Australia in March.

Fuhr said the visit was the first by a Canadian Prime Minister in about 20 years.

“He and Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed the strength of the Australia and Canada relationship,” he said.

“[They] committed to deeper cooperations in defence, security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy and investments.

“Today we are turning those commitments into action by formalising our partnership to deliver Canada’s Arctic over-the-horizon radar capability.

“Canada and Australia are Commonwealth countries, Five Eyes partners, and we’ve stood shoulder-to-shoulder for generations.

“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.”