Other Governments' Interest OTHR:

Note: This update was prepared by ChatGPT, 8 Sep 2025

Canada–Australia tech partnership for A-OTHR.

On July 17, 2025, Canada’s Department of National Defence announced a technology partnership arrangement with Australia to accelerate Canada’s Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) effort, citing Australia’s world-leading OTHR (i.e., JORN) capability. The release notes initial capability by end-2029 and frames A-OTHR as a key pillar of NORAD modernisation.

Site selection and timeline. The same day, DND named the first transmit site (Kawartha Lakes, Ontario) and a preliminary receive site (Clearview Township, Ontario), again targeting initial operational capability by end-2029 and indicating a four-site end state.

Public engagement & technical siting notes. DND opened a public consultation (Jul 17–Sep 15, 2025) explaining why the arrays are being placed in southern Ontario (south of 46°N) to meet propagation and geometry requirements for Arctic surveillance. It also outlines Stage 1 by 2029 and full capability targeted by 2043.

Program framing & budget range. In Canada’s Defence Capabilities Blueprint, A-OTHR is scoped as an HF OTHR in southern Canada with an indicative funding range of C$1–4.99 B, nested within the broader C$38.6 B NORAD modernisation plan announced in 2022.

How this links to Australia’s JORN.. Australia’s Department of Defence states the agreement lets both nations “further develop JORN technology” and tackle Arctic-specific OTHR challenges—explicitly tying Canada’s program to JORN know-how and DSTG collaboration with DRDC.

Defence

Who else is interested in (or already operating) OTHR

United States (operational & prospective)

Operates the ROTHR HF OTH radar (Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico) supporting long-range maritime/air detection; multiple government/industry sources detail its role and range.

The Department of Energy's Energy.gov

Prospective interest in JORN tech: Australia’s Defence Minister (19 Mar 2025) said Australia has been in talks with the U.S. about JORN/OTHR, while highlighting the Canada collaboration. (Not a done deal, but on the record.)

United Kingdom (reported interest): UK press has reported interest in Australia’s OTHR after Canada’s move (not an official UK announcement). (Note: separate from the DARC space-tracking radar program with the US and Australia, which is not OTHR.)

France: ONERA’s NOSTRADAMUS is a long-standing skywave OTHR demonstrator (capable of >3,000 km detection), showcased again in 2025.

Russia: The 29B6 “Container” system is an HF OTHR used for long-range airspace monitoring (open sources).

China: Academic/defence analyses note multiple Chinese skywave and surface-wave OTHR deployments over the last decade.

India (developing): Amateur-radio/defence reporting has tracked DRDO work toward an OTHR capability; details are sparse and not yet at the level of an official program announcement.