Australia and Canada finalized a A$2.5 billion (US$1.75-1.8 billion) defense export deal on June 22, 2026, for Australia’s advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar system known as the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. This is Australia’s largest-ever defense export and its first overseas sale of the radar technology [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9].
The JORN system uses ionospheric reflection to detect aircraft, ships, and missiles up to 3,000 kilometers away, overcoming the limits of conventional radar by bouncing high frequency waves off the ionosphere [1, 3, 4, 5, 9]. The deal includes building at least one radar station in Canada’s Arctic region, enhancing air and maritime threat monitoring across roughly 40% of Canada’s landmass [3, 4, 8, 9].
Canadian Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr said the project forms part of a broader effort to integrate Arctic surveillance and communications. He noted it "will strengthen Canada’s ability to monitor, understand and respond to activity in the Arctic" and provide early warning to improve continental defense and reinforce Canadian sovereignty [1, 5]. Fuhr also stressed the strategic value of working with partners like Australia to diversify Canadian defense capabilities beyond existing US cooperation [3, 4, 5, 8].
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the agreement a "significant milestone in Australian defence trade" and said it laid foundations for "deeper and mutually beneficial defence industry collaboration with Canada" [1]. Defence Minister Richard Marles added, "This is Australia’s largest ever defense export and the agreement adds significant strategic weight to our longstanding friendship with Canada" [3].
BAE Systems Australia will begin delivering the radar system to Canada on July 1, 2026 [3, 4, 8, 9]. The radar buildout aims to reach Initial Operational Capability by the end of 2029 [9]. The deal is expected to create around 300 jobs in Australia and 2,300 jobs annually in Canada over the next five years [1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9].
Canada’s installation of the Over-the-Horizon Radar will support the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) with enhanced early warning capabilities and improve monitoring of its Arctic airspace and maritime approaches [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9].
