The federal government is going on a spending spree to upgrade the NORAD defence system we share with the U.S.

Defence minister Anita Anand says it’s in part due to the development of new technology such as hypersonic weapons and advanced cruise missiles.

Canada is investing $4.9 billion over the next six years in an effort, according to Anand, to modernize the continental defences and protect Canadians from new and emerging threats.

Also included is a new system to track missiles, which has an Arctic over the horizon capability, to provide better early warning coverage.

She says it’s the most significant upgrade to the system, built at the height of the cold war, in nearly 40 years.

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