Performance prediction for design of a network of skywave over-the-horizon radars

Skywave over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) is long-range beyond horizon radar technology that is presently employed by several nations for wide-area surveillance of aircraft and maritime vessels [1]. This radar class uses propagation via the ionosphere [2] to achieve radar energy propagation to and from the target region. The ionosphere is driven by varying solar interaction with the Earth, and this variability significantly influences the operational performance of a skywave OTHR. Considerable care in selecting radar-operating parameters is required to achieve the best performance.