The Air Force’s environmental review should conclude in the fall of 2027. If the review goes well, construction of the new OTH radars will begin towards the end of 2028. 

The U.S. state of Oregon seems to be on the verge of becoming militarily relevant. The Air Force is planning to use Oregon as the location for the service’s first two Over-the-Horizon (OTH) radars, which are capable of detecting incoming threats up to 4,000 miles away. The new radar systems would improve detection times for military leaders, enhancing the ability to deter, or defend against, adversaries.

OTH Radars Will Put Oregon on the (Military) Map

Oregon currently lacks a federal military facility, a peculiar absence given the state’s location along the western border of the country. All three of America’s other western coastal states—Alaska, Washington, and California—are sprinkled throughout with highly relevant military facilities, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Naval Base San Diego, and so on. Not Oregon, however; the most visible military installations in the entire, sprawling state of Oregon are the two Air National Guard bases, the 142^nd Wing out of Portland and the 173^rd Fighter Wing out of Klamath Falls. But given Oregon’s prime, western-facing real estate—well situated to address prospective threats from China, North Korea, Russia, et cetera—Oregon’s military neglect was likely to change.

The Air Force has recently published a notice announcing that they will be conducting an environmental review of two regions across Oregon for the placement of new OTH radars. “The proposal is for two transmitters to be in Christmas Valley, Oregon, and two receivers in Whitehorse Ranch, Oregon,” an Air Force spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The publication reported that “both locations are unincorporated areas of the state without active government structures.”

Currently, the Oregon Military Department owns and manages the Christmas Valley area; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the Whitehorse Ranch area.

What Does “Over-the-Horizon” Really Mean?

The basic premise of the OTH radar is to lift the fog of war—allowing its operator to peer beyond the horizon, specifically enhancing its detection abilities for faraway targets. Whereas standard radar equipment cannot glimpse beyond the horizon, OTH, as the name suggests, can. 

“Compared to other conventional radars, the [OTH] enables long-range detection by bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere—starting roughly 50 miles above Earth—and beyond the planet’s curvature, allowing it to detect a wide range of threats like bombers, cruise missiles, and surface ships,” Air & Space Forces Magazine reported. “Once a threat is detected, the radar system passes target location onto other manned or unmanned aircraft, or land-based radars that can reconfirm the type and number of threats.”

Two primary components make up the OTH, as with conventional radars. The first is the radar transmitter, which emits high-frequency radio waves. The second is the receiver, which catches the signals that are reflected back.

The Air Force’s environmental review should conclude in the fall of 2027. If the review goes well, construction of the new OTH radars will begin towards the end of 2028. In the words of Air Force General Glen VanHerck, the former commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the OTH will give the U.S. military “better eyes around the world”—and better visibility into incoming threats.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image: Shutterstock / twabian.

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