Sky-wave over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) relies on bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere to achieve long-range surveillance, even beyond the Earth's curvature. A critical component of OTHR is the real-time frequency management system (FMS), which must continuously adjust to accommodate the dynamic ionospheric conditions, particularly in high-latitude and polar regions. To maintain consistent detection of distant targets, OTHR systems must periodically adjust operating frequencies and elevation angles in response to these fluctuating conditions. In this context, the Assimilation Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (A-CHAIM) was developed to represent the short-term variability and unique features of the high-latitude and polar ionosphere. This model serves as a cutting-edge tool for real-time ionospheric modeling in these challenging regions; however, inconsistent availability and distribution of observations ultimately limit the scales of structuring that the model can capture. To address these limitations, Defence Research and Development Canada is working on several enhancements to improve A-CHAIM's performance and reliability in the future.
Emerging Trends in Radar: Long-Range Surveillance in North Polar Region
IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine ; 40 , 6 ; 84-89
2025-06-01
2275800 byte
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Emerging Trends in Radar: Automotive Radar Networks
IEEE | 2025
|Emerging Trends in Radar: HF Skywave Radar
IEEE | 2025
|Emerging Trends in Radar: Airborne ISR
IEEE | 2025
|