Asked if the reason Canada is purchasing the technology is that the US has asked it to do more, he said his country has just announced the purchase of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) from Washington.
“The relationship (with the US) is different, and we have great partners in other places in the world, this being a very good example of it with this radar,” Fuhr added
“It is far and away the largest defence export that we have ever done,” Marles told a news conference.
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“Australia and Canada have always been the very best of friends, but really, with what we have signed today, there is now a very significant strategic dimension to the relationship.”
Australia’s radar system is the “backbone” of its long-range northern surveillance, and the most advanced in the world, Marles said.
“Just like Australia, Canada has large areas to surveil, and so Canada will use this to engage in surveillance over the Arctic.”
The agreement would support about 300 technical jobs in Australia, the government said.
BAE Systems Australia is set to commence delivery of the system on July 1 this year.
