Canada's Defense Minister announced on Monday June 20 a modernization of the country's air and missile defense in the Arctic, which is being done in collaboration with the United States.
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According to Minister Anita Anand, the new measures are justified by the growing military threats from Russia and the advent of new enemy technologies, such as hypersonic missiles.
At a press conference at Canada's largest airbase in the Ontario city of Trenton, the minister said a budget of 4.9 billion Canadian dollars (3.6 billion euros) would be released over six years.
A modernization
The funds will be spent on establishing ground-based and satellite-based radars capable of spotting '
over the horizon
' incoming bombers or missiles, as well as sensor networks with '
classified capabilities
' to monitor aerial approaches. and nautical from the Arctic to the continent.
The program is part of a desire to modernize the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) and its early warning systems.
A modernization that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February accelerated.
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"Responding to Stealth Threats"
These new systems will replace the old northern warning system dating from the Cold War and whose 50 short and long range radar stations from Alaska to northern Quebec are no longer able to detect modern missiles.
“
As autocratic regimes threaten the international order based on the rule of law that has protected us for decades, and as our competitors develop new technologies, such as hypersonic weapons and cruise missiles, there is an urgent need to modernize the Canadian capabilities of Norad
," explained Anita Anand.
The new spending represents "
the most significant upgrade in nearly four decades
" for Canada and will "
push our line of sight further north to be able to respond to stealth threats
," she said. added.
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The United States has already established a new continental defense budget.
The Canadian government also announced in March its intention to buy 88 US F-35 fighter jets to replace its aging fleet.
Their main role will be to patrol the far north of Canada.