SIGINT

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The Cold War was not only a geopolitical confrontation between nuclear powers. It was also a vast, largely invisible defence system built across territories, coastlines, and remote regions, designed to detect threats before they reached population centres.

In North America, this translated into early warning radar lines, listening stations, command centres, and interceptor networks stretching across Canada’s North and the Arctic. These systems were intended to provide minutes—or sometimes seconds—of advance notice in the event of a Soviet bomber or missile attack. Geography became a strategic asset: distance, latitude, and isolation were integral to continental defence.

Canada played a central but often understated role in this architecture. Through joint agreements such as NORAD, Canadian territory hosted key components of radar and surveillance infrastructure, linking national sovereignty to continental security. Much of this work was conducted in secrecy, with limited public debate and long-lasting consequences for communities, environments, and governance.

While the Cold War formally ended, many of its defence logics remain active today. Early warning systems have evolved, technologies have changed, and the Arctic has re-emerged as a strategic priority. Yet the foundations of modern defence planning are rooted in Cold War assumptions about detection, deterrence, and control.

This section provides essential context for understanding the investigations presented on this site. It outlines the historical frameworks, strategic choices, and physical infrastructures that shaped Cold War defence—and helps explain why they continue to matter in the present.