CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Gaps in Airspace Surveillance
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a collaboration between Canada and the United States, has identified significant vulnerabilities in its radar coverage of airspace. In June, Canada addressed some of these vulnerabilities by entering into four agreements for a new radar system developed in Australia.
This new system, named the Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR), has a contract value of approximately US$1.75 billion with Australia.
Gordon Frazer, the founder and CEO of FrazerLab, an Australian company specializing in HF radar technology, highlighted the critical nature of this upgrade in an interview with Defense News. He emphasized the significant risks posed by the current gaps in radar coverage, suggesting that aircraft could traverse continents undetected if they were not transmitting their locations electronically.
“For instance, a Russian Tu-95 could potentially fly from Engels Air Base in Russia to Canadian airspace without detection,” Frazer explained.
He further noted, “This is a primary concern for NORAD, prompting them to expedite the development of this technology.”
Frazer, who previously worked as an engineer on the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) in Australia, brings firsthand knowledge to the discussion.
Enhanced Surveillance Capabilities
While the existing North Warning System, a series of microwave radars across Canada’s northern regions, serves as NORAD’s primary surveillance line, Frazer described it as easily bypassable. He pointed out that by flying at low altitudes, one could elude detection between these fixed radar installations.
Over-the-horizon (OTH) radar technology, however, uses high-frequency signals that reflect off the ionosphere, allowing for the detection of aerial and sometimes maritime targets from great distances, far beyond the horizon that limits traditional radars.
Canada’s agreement with BAE Systems Australia involves the transfer of technology and expertise necessary for Canada to establish its OTHR sites. These sites are expected to monitor extensive perimeters, with official reports claiming detection capabilities of up to 3,000 kilometers, potentially extending even further.
A press release from Ottawa confirmed the formalization of this partnership, marking a significant transition from planning to the delivery phase of Canada’s A-OTHR program.
Geographic and Environmental Considerations
Canada has been exploring the application of OTHR technology in its northern territories, where environmental and solar conditions vary significantly from those in Australia. Frazer mentioned that despite the “Arctic” designation in A-OTHR, the system is better described as high-latitude, tailored to Canadian geographic specifics.
The polar regions pose unique challenges for OTHR due to the Earth’s magnetic field, which can create significant signal interference. About 40% of Canada lies above the Arctic Circle, where these effects are most pronounced.
Interestingly, Frazer suggested that Canada might position its A-OTHR facilities as far south as feasible within its territory to minimize distortion from the northern magnetic fields. Yet, the future expansion of the network could include trans-polar capabilities, offering potential visibility deep into Russian territory.
This positioning would be crucial for monitoring Russian military activities, including the movement of strategic bombers and missile launches.
Frazer speculated that while Australia operates three JORN sites, the exact number of Canadian installations remains undecided. He anticipated that a comprehensive North American radar coverage would require multiple installations across strategic locations, potentially totaling five or six sites for complete 360-degree surveillance.
Australian Technological Leadership
Craig Lockhart, CEO of BAE Systems Australia, emphasized the strategic significance of this acquisition for both nations, enhancing the detection and tracking capabilities against potential threats to North America and strengthening the collective situational awareness of the Five Eyes alliance.
Frazer praised Australia’s continuous investment in OTHR technology, which has cultivated a pool of world-leading experts in the field. He noted that about 15% of the system’s cost relates to the sophisticated equipment used to adjust radar settings based on dynamic atmospheric conditions.
Highlighting the bespoke nature of national OTHR systems, Frazer expressed hope that the Canadian project would not only address immediate surveillance needs but also foster long-term technological collaboration and innovation between the two countries.
In addition to OTHR, Canada continues to enhance its surveillance capabilities with complementary systems like airborne early-warning aircraft. Recently, Canada chose Saab’s GlobalEye for its future airborne platform, with the A-OTHR expected to achieve initial operational capability by December 2029.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
