US Military Requests Multi-Purpose Sensors Installation In Canada’s Arctic

The US military is planning to ask permission from Canada for installation of missile sensors in the Arctic that would be capable to track various incoming missiles.

A senior US defence official said in CTV report on Tuesday that the request is being made to the US policy leaders as well as the Canadian government. He added that it's too early in the process to set a target date.

Admiral William Gortney, the head of the Canada-US Norad program and of Northern Command told a news conference at the Pentagon that it's nearly time to replace the aging sensors in the Canada-US North Warning System, along the old Arctic distant early warning line, the Cold-War era DEW Line.

He said that he would prefer to replace them with newer versions that could not only see farther, over the horizon, but also be able to track shorter-range cruise missiles.

"In a few years -- I'd say 10 years is the number -- (the current equipment is) going to reach a point of obsolescence and we're going to have to reinvest for that capability," Gortney added.

"The question is, what sort of technology do we want to use to reconstitute that capability? We don't want to put in the same sorts of sensors because they're not effective against the low-altitude, say, cruise missiles. They can't see over the horizon." Gortney added.

The Arctic sensors would deliver tracking information to the missile-defence program. Defence Minister Jason Kenney recently said the government would look at modernizing Norad's capacity to detect potential threats.

He also reiterated that it was examining the long-standing opposition to participation in ballistic missile defence and would await the findings of a study by the House of Commons defence committee.

As for new sensors in the Arctic, Kenney spokeswoman Lauren Armstrong said Tuesday, "We are constantly reviewing Canada's security and defence requirements but no decisions have been taken".