The Defense Department welcomes Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand's June 20 announcement of plans to enlarge Canada's defense budget and make significant investments in North American Aerospace Defense Command modernization and continental defense, said Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command.
The plans, according to Anand, call for spending $38.6 billion over the next 20 years on an accrual basis.
This increase will be allocated to initiatives aligned with the investment priorities established by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and previous Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan in their August 2021 "Joint Statement on NORAD Modernization," Anand said.
These include investments in NORAD capabilities related to:
Enhancing situational awareness, including the establishment of over-the-horizon radar sites to improve coverage of Canada's airspace and to monitor northern approaches to North America.
Modernizing command and control systems to make better, more timely use of data and enable more effective military operations.
Bolstering defeat and support capabilities, including the acquisition of additional and longer-range air-to-air missiles and refueling capabilities.
Upgrading Canadian bases used by NORAD to support more robust and flexible air operations across northern North America.
Investing in research, development and innovation, including the establishment of a dedicated science and technology program for the defense of North America.
"Minister Anand's statement adds detail to her May 18, 2022, speech to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, where she expressed the commitment of the Canadian government to working closely alongside the United States and investing substantively in NORAD modernization to ensure the continued security of the North American continent," said VanHerck.
"She then promised to present 'a robust and detailed plan for NORAD modernization' and to continue to engage Secretary Austin on this shared priority," VanHerck added.