The Liberal government has rejected Canadian technology when choosing a new radar, giving preference to an Australian-British consortium worth $6 billion. This became known after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the purchase of a system to detect missiles over the Arctic.

Canadian company D-TA Systems from Ottawa, which specializes in long-range radars, has already successfully worked for the needs of the Department of Defense, and it has accumulated experience since 2011. The Canadian Ministry of Defense spent about $30 million on cooperation with D-TA, and the systems already delivered show high efficiency.

"It was a blow to national pride," said D-TA Chairman Dipak Roy. According to him, abandoning our own product is a decision devoid of respect for domestic developments. In addition, the contract with foreign partners provides for the transfer of intellectual property rights to them, whereas with Canadian systems the state would retain full control.

At a time when governments and defense experts insist that national interests come first, it is worth considering whether Canadian manufacturers should be given priority when purchasing technology. This will not only support domestic industry, but also ensure the security and independence of the country’s critical defense capabilities.

The issue is part of a broader critique of Liberal defense policy, with the majority of contracts worth more than $30 billion from 2023 going to American companies, despite the availability of effective Canadian solutions.

Source: Ottawa Citizen