As Arctic tensions rise, missile technologies advance, and U.S. foreign policy veers toward unilateralism, NORAD faces mounting pressure to evolve. But can it? And will Canada rise to meet the challenge alongside the United States, or risk being left behind? Furthermore, will Canada step into the BMD conversation?
In this week’s installment of the Expert Series, Dr. James Fergusson joins us to unpack whether and how Canada and the U.S. can overcome political, technical, and geographic challenges to modernize NORAD effectively and ensure integrated, resilient North American defense against evolving missile and space-based threats. Fergusson discusses NORAD modernization efforts—including over-the-horizon radar and leveraging AI, the need for stronger binational collaboration on continental defence, the strategic implications of growing adversarial activity in space, and the need for Canada to seriously consider ballistic missile defence.
James Fergusson is the former Director or the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba.
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The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.

The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.

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