What does OTHR mean in UNCLASSIFIED

Over The Horizon Radar (OTHR) is a type of radar system that transmits a narrow, directional beam of radio waves that are reflected off of the ionosphere. OTHR's unique ability to radiate beyond the horizon has many advantages, making it an invaluable technology for hosting large-scale surveillance and monitoring operations.

The advantage of OTHR over other forms of radar systems is its wide area coverage capability. It is also capable of performing advanced pattern recognition techniques in order to identify targets at greater distances than other forms of radar. Additionally, OTHR requires much less energy than other radar systems which enables longer range coverage with minimal power requirements.

OTHR uses high frequency (HF) radio waves and relies on the Earth's atmosphere known as the ionosphere to reflect these signals back to earth at great distances. This reflection allows signals to travel far beyond what normal line-of-sight sectors can reach, allowing operators to detect objects or individuals at much greater ranges than traditional radar systems.

OTHR can be used in air defense applications such as airborne early warning and surveillance systems as well as search and rescue missions. It can also be used in border control areas for improved security detection capabilities, or even deployed on ships for coastal surveillance and maritime domain awareness operations by navies around the world.

OTHR offers superior performance when compared against other types of radar systems due to its wide area coverage capabilities and advanced pattern recognition techniques which help operators accurately identify targets from long ranges with minimal power requirements. Additionally, its use in communication applications also provides increased information about environmental conditions due to its long range transmission capabilities.