Canada has announced a $6.5 billion purchase of Australia's world-leading radar technology, the Jindalee Over-the-Horizon Radar (JORN). The deal was confirmed after new Canadian leader Mark Carney spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before flying to Nunavut to make the announcement, according to state media.

"Today, I'm announcing that our government will be working with our long-standing defence and security partner Australia to build a new, long-range, over-the-horizon military radar system," Carney stated during the announcement in Canada's Arctic territory.

The radar system will enhance Canada's defense capabilities, allowing them to "detect and respond to both air and maritime threats over our Arctic both faster and from further away," according to Carney. He added that the technology will "most fundamentally keep all Canadians safe."

The purchase comes amid President Donald Trump's return to the White House and his previous threats to annex Canada and Greenland. Ottawa has also faced pressure from Washington to increase its defense spending.

The defense deal reflects a broader trend of Australian companies looking beyond traditional markets. Australian cryptocurrency broker Swyftx recently announced its acquisition of New Zealand-based Easy Crypto, with CEO Jason Titman citing Trump's crypto-friendly policies as supporting their expansion timing.

JORN is considered the most advanced system of its kind globally. Now in its fourth decade of service, this high-frequency, sky-wave, over-the-horizon system provides surveillance of ships and aircraft up to 3,000 kilometers away.

The technology works by beaming high-frequency radio signals toward the ionosphere, which then refract down to illuminate targets. The echo returns by a similar path to a receiver site where it's processed into real-time tracking information.

Prime Minister Albanese welcomed the deal, noting it was beneficial for Australia to "diversify its trade relationships." He stated: "It's important that we develop that diverse series of relationships and Canada is a very important one, we have so much in common."