High-Frequency Surface Wave Radar for Arctic Surveillance

Canada's High-Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR) technology, developed over 35 years by Raytheon Canada and government partners, uses seawater conductivity to bend radio waves along the ocean surface, detecting vessels up to 200 nautical miles (350km) offshore in all weather conditions — including ships that have disabled their AIS transponders. With the 2019 acquisition of Northern Radar Incorporated, all electronics, software, and antenna expertise now reside under one roof. The system has been proven at Cape Race, Newfoundland and Hartlen Point, Nova Scotia, and is now at fourth-generation maturity.

HFSWR fills a critical gap in Canada's Arctic surveillance toolkit. X-band coastal radars see only 10-30 nautical miles, satellites provide snapshots but not continuous tracking, and the planned Canada-Australia Over-the-Horizon Radar is optimized for air and missile detection, not surface vessel tracking. HFSWR provides the persistent, continuous maritime awareness needed to monitor Arctic straits as Russian and Chinese icebreaker fleets increase activity in the region.

The strategic urgency is immediate. With the new federal government committing to NATO spending benchmarks, HFSWR represents a uniquely Canadian capability that can be deployed quickly — reactivating existing sites in weeks, or establishing new Arctic installations in 12-18 months. A handful of sites could cover Canada's key maritime approaches. This is a rare case where Canada possesses a world-leading defense technology that directly addresses its most pressing sovereignty challenge, yet has been chronically under-deployed.