Vanguard Magazine

towards new infrastructure and support capabilities throughout Canada, but with a special emphasis on northern facilities. Finally, the government seeks to ensure that investments noted above remain rel- evant by committing $4.28 billion to al- low Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to create a science and technology program that, in conjunction with the US, will address new and emerg- ing threats. Each of the funding areas warrant a clos- er look, but for the purposes of this article additional detail will be provided concern- ing surveillance systems, communications and technology, and infrastructure and support capabilities. Surveillance Systems Under the umbrella of a new Northern Approaches Surveillance System, terres- trial investment will focus on upgrading NORAD's northern radar capabilities. Both Arctic and a Polar Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR and P-OTHR respec- www.vanguardcanada.com JUNE/JULY 2022 13 tively) systems are planned as part of the NORAD modernization program. Using skywave or "skip" propagation, these sys- tems will employ shortwave signals that are refracted or "bounced" off the ionosphere permitting detection ranges far in excess of those achieved by older line-of-sight ra- dars limited by the curvature of the earth. Consisting of a transmitting and receiving facility, A-OTHR will permit NORAD to detect and track airborne targets from the Canada – US border to the Arctic circle (the distance from Toronto to the Arctic circle is approximately 2,545 kilometres). The P-OTHR system will provide an early warning detection and tracking capability covering the northernmost approaches to North America, including all the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and beyond. Both sys- tems will be augmented by additional clas- sified sensors (Crossbow) placed in select locations throughout the North. There is also a space-based element to NORAD modernization. Under the All- Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) program, funded by DRDC, three micro- satellites for Arctic surveillance are being developed by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), Toronto. Dubbed project "Gray Jay," the three low-earth satellites, ranging in mass from 20-30 kilograms, are based on the proven SFL Defiant platform per- mitting a scalable range of sensor and com- munication equipment to be accommodat- ed. With an estimated cost of $15 million inclusive of launch, their deployment is planned for the fourth quarter of 2023 and will significantly increase domain awareness for NORAD and the CAF. Communications and Technology Modernizing the CAF's and NORAD's C3 capabilities and systems is another important goal and the centrepieces of this line of ef- fort are the E n h a n c e d CONTINENTAL AIR DEFENCE A CC-150 Polaris Airbus from 437 Squadron in Trenton provides air-to-air refueling to CF-18 Hornet fighter aircra from 409 Squadron on their transit from Cold Lake, during a NORAD exercise. Photo: DND

• Cover