By Canadian Press

Norad modernization awaiting political direction as China, Russia develop new threats

Nov 30, 2021 | 2:48 PM

OTTAWA — The commander of the North American Aerospace Defence Command says China and Russia are developing new ways to attack even as he waits for political direction to modernize the continent’s outdated early-warning system.

U.S. Gen. Glen VanHerck made the comments during a roundtable with reporters this afternoon during his first visit to Ottawa since taking over as Norad commander in August 2020.

His visit comes amid growing concerns about the development and deployment of long-range cruise missiles and so-called hypersonic weapons by Russia and China that are capable of striking North America.

VanHerck says the string of 50-year-old radars that have formed the backbone of North America’s defensive network are unable to detect such modern threats.

Canada and the U.S. have committed for years to upgrading the entire system, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden issuing a joint statement to that effect last August.

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Yet VanHerck says those efforts are still in their infancy.

And he says he is hoping for direction from Defence Minister Anita Anand and her American counterpart sooner rather than later so work on meeting the emerging threats can begin in earnest.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30, 2021.

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press