Red Deer radar contract brings high hopes for defence investments

Red Deer radar contract brings high hopes for defence investments

Alberta firm building key components for radar network designed to detect threats above the arctic

A company based in Red Deer, Alta. is contributing to a network of arctic radars designed to detect potential missile and aircraft threats.

Community leaders say the project shows Central Alberta is an attractive place for defence and technology companies to invest. People at the company, Technalogix, say the project is an example of why Canada’s recent defence and military buildup should prioritize local companies.

“Do you want to leave your home defence up to your neighbour? No. No one does,” said Thomas King, chief operating officer of Technalogix, in an interview with CBC News.

“We have the capability in Canada to take care of our defensive needs. We need more investment. We need more Canadian contracts to go to Canadian companies, and we need to grow our industry here.”

The project is called the Polar Over-the-Horizon Radar (P-OTHR). An over-the-horizon radar is designed to see over the earth’s curvature. Canada’s high arctic is considered more vulnerable to threats by the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), a coalition between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the U.S. Air Force that monitors North American airspace for threats.

Technalogix is building the amplifiers that send radio waves up into the ionosphere. These radio waves bounce off the ionosphere and are sent back to receivers on the ground. An object is detected if the waves returning to earth show any discrepancies in the data.

King said originally the federal government had looked to the United States to fulfill the contract about eight years ago.

Andrea Charron, director of the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies, said Canada is in a strong position to develop this technology. Other countries such as the U.S. have similar systems, but struggle with the climate, energy and maintenance demands of the high arctic.

“There aren't very many countries that have this technology. So in some cases, Canada is going to be on the leading edge,” said Charron.

“For sort of the same reasons why we get the wonderful northern lights, also makes it a challenge for trying to direct radio waves off of the ionosphere.”

Canada has recently signed agreements with Australia to also buy an Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar system to be located in Ontario, which is expected to create 2,270 jobs annually between 2026 and 2033.

P-OTHR has been pinging high hopes for a boost in central Alberta too. Burton Bailey, Conservative MP for Red Deer, was happy to hear the contract was coming to his riding, saying in an interview “we are open for business.”

“I'm really excited. I think it just shows the power of Canadian technology,” he added.

Frank Creasey, CEO of the Red Deer District Chamber said the contract shows Central Alberta has plenty of opportunities for growth — and possibly becoming specialists in defence industries.

“Centrally locating here, we can leverage both [Edmonton and Calgary],” he said. “The cost of living is really economical here in Red Deer and area. You have the resources, the technological know-how, the educational institutions that are willing to collaborate with each other.”

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The company itself has recruited talent both from Alberta and abroad, and works with local businesses.

“We obviously try to hire local. However, that doesn't always happen when you're looking for such specialized people,” said Technalogix CEO Robert Gullon.

“How proud can you be … having the ability to protect your own country. It makes everyone here happy.”

Lina Elsaadi is a multiplatform reporter for CBC News in Red Deer, Alta. She has previously reported and produced all across Australia for ABC News. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s RTA Media Production program. Need to get in touch? You can reach her at lina.elsaadi@cbc.ca.