Australia sells long-range radar to Canada in $2.5bn deal

Deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles announced a $2.5bn government-to-government agreement to export an over-the-horizon long-range radar to Canada at Parliament House. He described it as a "historic moment for Australia’s defence industry" and said Canada will use the system to "engage in surveillance over the Arctic." Marles added: "This is a $2.5bn deal, and it is far and away the largest defence export we have ever done." Marles traced the radar’s origins to the Hawke government, saying: "The over-the-horizon radar began its life actually under the [Bob] Hawke government back in 1986 … since then it has formed the backbone of Australia’s long-range northern surveillance.

And it is far and away the most advanced long-range radar in the world." Canada’s secretary of state, Stephen Fuhr, said his country will continue to work with the United States but must not concentrate its defence procurement with a single partner.

Australia, Canada, Arctic

australia, canada, over-the-horizon, long-range radar, 2.5bn deal, defence export, richard marles, stephen fuhr, arctic surveillance, hawke government