12 JUNE/JULY 2023 www.vanguardcanada.com
N O R A D M O D E R N I Z AT I O N
REVISITING
NORAD
MODERNIZATION
A
public declaration of govern-
mental intent that had been
outlined in 2017's Strong,
Secure, Engaged: Canada's
Defence Policy, the an-
nouncement was an overt recognition that
investment was required in NORAD to al-
low it to meet a new generation of emerg-
ing threats, both kinetic and non-kinetic.
The Soviet invasion of Ukraine in February
2022, and the massive use of drone, ballis-
tic and cruise missiles, as well as hypersonic
weapons, spurred the government, with
appropriate fanfare, to announce in June
that Canada would invest $38.6 billion
in NORAD over a twenty-year period. In
defence circles, the news was received as a
long-overdue recognition that the world
was a far more dangerous place and that in-
stitutions, such as NORAD, require signifi-
cant investment to ensure their relevance.
Over a year has passed since the Minister
of National Defence (MND), Anita Anand,
announced Canada's sizeable investment
IN JUNE 1921, THE GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
(US) ANNOUNCED A BI-NATIONAL DECISION TO PRESS FORWARD WITH THE
MODERNIZATION OF NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENCE COMMAND (NORAD)
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES.
B Y W I L L I A M M A R C H
Canadian and American military members exchange their flags at
5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador during Exercise
VIGILANT SHIELD 17 on October 17, 2016. Photo: MCpl Krista
Blizzard, 5 Wing Public Affairs
