Beyond the far horizon - USAF's ionsophere-bouncing radar finally set to go
Abstract
The Continental U.S. Over-The-Horizon-Backscatter (CONUS OTH-B) radar, whose full-scale development began in June of 1972, uses ionospheric reflection to illuminate large areas beyond the range of conventional surveillance radar systems and is designed exclusively for the long range detection of strategic bombers and cruise missiles directed against the North American mainland. Assuming a maximum effective detection range of about 3,340 km, warning times of 3.3 and 1.2 hours result for the cases of subsonic and supersonic threats, respectively. The CONUS OTH-B system will posses an 'interrogate mode', in which additional radiation energy will be expended to obtain high resolution data on areas of special interest. The development of this form of radar has been delayed by the unavailability of real time, high volume digital data processing equipment of the requisite capability and reliability.
- Publication:
-
Interavia
- Pub Date:
- December 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982Inter..37.1302B
- Keywords:
-
- Early Warning Systems;
- Ionospheric Propagation;
- Military Technology;
- Over-The-Horizon Radar;
- Research And Development;
- Backscattering;
- High Resolution;
- Ionospheric Sounding;
- Real Time Operation;
- Communications and Radar