New $6-billion Arctic radar will track incoming missiles, says Canadian military

A new $6-billion radar system planned for the Arctic will be focused on tracking incoming missiles as Canada seeks to reassure the United States it is doing its part to defend North America.

Almost 20 years ago, the Canadian government rejected establishing a missile radar warning system on the east coast that would feed into the Pentagon’s missile defence system.

But earlier this year defence industry representatives in Ottawa were given a briefing on a new system being planned that would provide missile tracking and other data to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).

The Polar-Over-the-Horizon Radar will be “optimized to detect missiles,” but will also track additional aerospace and maritime objects, defence company representatives were told at the April 3 briefing.

NORAD, in particular, has expressed its concern over cruise missiles.

The radar system was announced with other initiatives in June 2022 as part of the Liberal government’s NORAD modernization plan, but few details were provided.

The industry briefing, however, noted that the system will “operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week continuously with limited shutdowns for scheduled maintenance.”

The cost estimate, at this time, is between $4 billion and $6 billion, according to the briefing. The system is expected to be fully operational in 2033.

But large-scale and highly technical Canadian defence projects have a track record of going over budget and falling behind schedule.

When originally announced, the government noted that the Polar-Over-the-Horizon Radar will “provide early warning radar coverage over and beyond the northernmost approaches to North America, including the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.”

Defence industry representatives were told at the April 3 briefing that Defence Research and Development Canada would now be involved in site testing as well as computer-based modelling and simulation for the project.

In addition, a project team of five military officers and three contractors has been created to begin the initiative, according to the briefing.

Actual construction of the radars would begin in 2030, according to other Department of National Defence documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen using the Access to Information Act.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has also highlighted to American companies the Polar Over-the-Horizon Radar system as well as other Canadian procurements, noting they present opportunities for U.S. firms.

National Defence spokesman Kened Sadiku noted in an email statement to the Ottawa Citizen that the polar radar program was scheduled to enter what was called a definition period in 2029. That involves defence officials validating project costs and preparing a management plan. “We look forward to sharing more information about those initiatives as details become available,” Sadiku added in his email.

He did not explain why National Defence was not making available the same information to the public that it had provided to U.S. and Canadian companies.

National Defence has faced criticism over what some see as the growing secrecy over big-ticket military procurements.

Industry executives have previously pointed out that the secrecy is not based on security concerns, but on worries the news media and opposition MPs would be able to use the information to keep close tabs on the problem-plagued military procurement system.

The Liberal government has been under intense pressure from the U.S. to boost defence spending. Last year, the Liberals announced more than $30 billion in new projects, with much of that going to U.S. firms.

But that has prompted frustration among some domestic aerospace and defence companies that the Liberal government has been passing over Canadian technology, instead opting for foreign systems.

The Canadian Forces is planning other new radar projects to feed information into NORAD.

An over-the-horizon radar or OTHR, worth up to $3 billion, will be built somewhere in Ontario, according to the federal government.

The decision on where to locate that radar has fallen behind schedule as the specific location was supposed to be determined earlier this year.

But now the Department of National Defence says it doesn’t have a specific timeline for the decision on where the radars will be located.

Sadiku, however, says there is no change expected to the initial timeline associated with this project. Defence officials say they are still confident the radar will be ready by 2028.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe