- The United States. is strengthening its radar systems in the wake of the Chinese spy balloon incident earlier this year
- ‘Over-the-horizon’ radar will enable early detection of any threats arriving over the Arctic
The Pentagon is setting up six new massive radar facilities in the northwestern US and Canada to detect hypersonic Russian low-flying cruise missiles that could be fired over the North Pole.
It comes as NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – is trying to close detection gaps after its radar failed to detect the arrival of a Chinese spy balloon that passed through the US earlier this year.
New northern radars could provide early detection if Moscow decides to send missiles over the Arctic, Defense One reported.
Russia is already using such missiles to attack Ukraine.
Four large plots of land are being purchased by the US Air Force in the US and two in Canada for radar systems.
A Canadian Ranger scans the horizon at one of Canada’s distant Early Warning Line radar stations
Existing radar and communications equipment
Earlier this year, General David VanHerck, commander of NORAD, told Congress about the urgent need for over-the-horizon radar to protect against emerging threats of cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons from Russia.
He said it would deliver “proven, affordable technology that will ensure our ability to detect threats from surface to space as we approach North America.”
He said: “Rather than deploying the capabilities in eight to 10 years, maybe we can shorten that to four to five years. And by the way, I want Canada to do the same. Deploying a capacity ten years from now is not where we need to be.”
VenHerck said Alaska may be the “most strategic location on Earth,” in part because it is the “shortest path for ballistic missiles from Russia, possibly China and (North Korea) to our homeland.”
“The bottom line is that if you can’t detect something, you can’t defeat it, and you certainly can’t deter it.”
Since 2005, Russia has reopened a series of Soviet-era military bases in the Arctic.
In 2018, Vladimir Putin announced six “next generation” weapons that he claimed could penetrate existing missile defense systems.
Inadequate visibility in the Arctic could limit U.S. response time in a crisis.
In March, Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to strengthen detection systems in the Arctic.
Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau agreed in March to strengthen radar systems
Launch of Russia’s Sarmat ballistic missile in April 2022
This included support for over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) for NORAD.
Biden said: “We both recognize the critical importance of this region to our collective security.
“Soon, NORAD will have a new next-generation over-the-horizon radar to enhance our early warning capabilities.”
Traditional radar is limited in the distance at which it can detect threats due to the curvature of the Earth.
Over-the-horizon radar works by bouncing signals from the atmosphere to detect low-flying missiles that are still thousands of miles away.