Canada will acquire the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), a sophisticated and potent radar, from Australia for $4 billion. According to Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, this will be the largest defense industry export in the nation’s history. Ottawa facilitated the agreement by refusing to acquire armaments from Washington amid Donald Trump’s threats to establish Canada as a new U.S. state. The Australian radar will monitor the maritime and airspace in Canada’s Arctic territories. Ottawa is actively modernizing its military infrastructure in its northern territories and working to deter Russia’s activities in the Arctic.
The office of the new prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, characterized JORN as a critical element of Canada’s NORAD modernization strategy to identify and prevent threats in the extensive northern regions of the country. Our long-standing bilateral defense relationship will be further bolstered by the collaboration with Australia on this critical technology, which will also support Canada’s dedication to enhancing North American defenses in partnership with the United States.
For Australia, JORN monitors the sea and air over a 37,000 square kilometer area, with a maximum distance of 3,000 kilometers. In contrast to conventional radar, which transmits a signal and subsequently receives the response, JORN redirects its signal off the ionosphere, thereby enabling it to operate over a significantly greater distance. The original name of the system, Jindalee, originates from an aboriginal term that describes a location that remains invisible to the human eye.
JORN has not been specifically tested or optimized for extreme frigid conditions, such as those found in the Arctic. Nevertheless, it is anticipated to be effective in the Arctic, as Canada has committed to the development of an Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) system that is equipped with JORN technology. This decision is based on JORN’s demonstrated capacity to conduct long-range surveillance and threat detection across extensive regions, including maritime and airspace. This technology is intended to address the distinctive challenges presented by the remote and expansive terrain of Canada’s northern Arctic regions by enabling the more rapid and efficient monitoring and response to threats.
Additionally, JORN has the potential to significantly contribute to the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The integration of JORN into Canadian operations will enhance North American defenses against emergent threats as Canada aims to enhance its defense systems in partnership with the United States. Furthermore, the partnership with Australia on JORN technology not only strengthens Canada’s defense capabilities but also strengthens bilateral defense ties, thereby reinforcing Canadian commitments to regional security.
Nevertheless, to achieve optimal performance in the Arctic, certain obstacles may need to be overcome. Ionospheric disturbances caused by solar activity, as well as extreme weather conditions like lightning or turbulent seas, can affect the effectiveness of JORN. These factors could potentially affect its capacity to maintain consistent surveillance in polar regions.
Canada’s Arctic is a vast area that spans approximately 4.051 million square kilometers in the northern regions of the country. This region encompasses approximately 25% of the global Arctic and more than 40% of Canada’s total landmass. The Canadian Arctic’s immense size presents distinctive obstacles to surveillance and defense, necessitating that Canada improve its capabilities in this isolated region.
A 3,000-kilometer range would not adequately cover the Canadian Arctic. To provide context, the Canadian Arctic extends from the 60th parallel north to the northernmost point of Ellesmere Island, a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers from south to north. Furthermore, the Canadian Arctic spans more than 4,000 kilometers, extending from the western border of Yukon and Alaska to the eastern boundary of Baffin Island.
Furthermore, the Forward Operating Locations (FOLs) in Inuvik and Iqaluit are currently separated by approximately 3,000 kilometers, and they are located over 2,000 kilometers from the northernmost station in Alert. Given these dimensions, a single 3,000-kilometer range would not cover the entirety of the Canadian Arctic.
Canada’s decision to pursue JORN before the U.S. may have been influenced by Australia’s diversification of trade relationships and defense exports, as well as broader geopolitical factors that affect U.S.-Australia defense cooperation. Strategic considerations also play a role.
Richard Marles, the Australian Defense Minister, expressed his optimism that the United States will acquire JORN technology. According to company literature, BAE Systems Australia is overseeing the Phase 6 upgrade, a $1.2 billion AUD upgrade to the system that includes hardware and software enhancements, as well as sustainment support until 2028.
The United States has not yet purchased JORN for various reasons. One noteworthy factor is that the United States has been conducting research at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) under contracts with Lockheed Martin Australia to investigate JORN’s technology. This suggests that the United States is currently in the process of assessing the feasibility and potential applications of JORN for its military requirements.
Additionally, although JORN is effective for long-range surveillance, it does have its limitations. For example, it may encounter difficulty in identifying specific categories of aircraft or smaller wooden boats, which could potentially impact its compliance with all operational requirements of the United States.