A new chapter in Canada’s national defence strategy is taking shape in the Northwest Territories, as a joint venture between ATCO Frontec Ltd. and the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) has been awarded a significant federal contract. Valued at $48.4 million over two years, the agreement tasks the partnership with designing, building, installing, and operating a state-of-the-art radar defence system capable of detecting threats well beyond the normal radar range.
The newly-formed venture, majority-owned by IDC (51%) with ATCO holding a 49% stake, will spearhead the deployment of the Polar Over-the-Horizon Radar (POTHR) system. This advanced surveillance technology is engineered to monitor targets at extraordinary distances—ranging from hundreds to thousands of kilometres—surpassing the conventional limits of ground-based radar systems.
“We’ve assembled an incredible team of experts to deliver a highly technical, made-in-Canada solution for the POTHR program,” said Jim Landon, President, ATCO Frontec. “Our partnership has decades of experience operating and maintaining defence infrastructure in the Northwest Territories and across Northern Canada.”
This initiative is part of a broader federal effort to reinforce Canada’s continental defence, which includes upgrades to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The goal: modernize the country’s capabilities in the Arctic and beyond in response to growing geopolitical and environmental challenges.
“We are proud to leverage our deep knowledge of the region and work alongside Inuvialuit businesses to drive this project forward,” said Robert C. McLeod, Chair, Inuvialuit Development Corporation. “This collaboration will create lasting economic opportunities, strengthen local capacity and deliver direct benefits to Inuvialuit beneficiaries for years to come.”
To execute the project, the joint venture has partnered with D-TA Systems Inc., a Canadian firm renowned globally for its expertise in Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) technology. With a track record that includes delivering two of the world’s largest OTHR systems to Canada—both on schedule and within budget—D-TA brings critical experience to the table.
In addition to D-TA, the venture is engaging a network of Canadian-owned suppliers and contractors to carry out the work, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on domestic capability and Indigenous leadership.
“In joining forces with ATCO Frontec and IDC, we are leveraging the unmatched logistics and Indigenous partnership capabilities of two Canadian companies, while addressing the stringent logistic and construction challenges of delivering, installing and operating this critical radar technology in the harsh environment of Canada’s north,” said Dr. Dipak Roy, Founder & Executive Chairman, D-TA Systems Inc.
The contract officially began on March 28, 2025, with a two-year duration and the option to extend for up to three more years, ensuring long-term impact and opportunity for continued development in Canada’s North.