AIDN welcomes the $A6.6 billion deal for Canada to buy the proven Australian developed long range Over The Horizon radar system, opening up supply chain opportunities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the deal on Wednesday following a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, describing the surveillance and threat tracking system as “world leading technology’’.
Prime Minister Carney said Canada was buying the proven system to provide early warning radar coverage of threats from the north to the country’s vast Arctic region.
The Jindalee Over The Horizon radar or JORN system provides coverage of Australia’s vast north and wide area surveillance of ships and aircraft out to 3000km. It plays a vital role in supporting the Australian Defence Force’s air and maritime operations, border protection, disaster relief and rescue operations.
Australia boasts the world’s best over-the-horizon radar, a radar that silently but continuously keeps watch over air and sea movements across 37,000 square kilometres, up to 3,000 km from the country’s shores.
The Australian JORN Jindalee Operational Radar Network can overcome certain stealth characteristics. It is claimed that the HF frequency used and the method of bouncing radar from ionosphere overcomes the stealth characteristics of the F-117A.
The system is undergoing a $1.2 billion upgrade by BAE Systems Australia and 110 local companies and SME’s.
AIDN CEO Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that JORN was a prime example of Australian innovation and knowhow and welcomed Canada’s decision to purchase the proven system.
“I look forward to meeting with Canadian representatives at the Avalon Australian International Airshow to discuss potential opportunities for Australian SME’s in the Canadian JORN system supply chain.
“More than 100 local companies are involved in upgrading the system as its next iteration is completed within Australia.
“Canada is a longstanding close security partner of Australia, and as such the JORN partnership can only strengthen ties and the broader Defence industry relationship between our respective countries,’’ Mr Johnson said.
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