OMEGA was the first global-range radio navigation system, operated by the United States in cooperation with six partner nations.

It was a hyperbolic navigation system, enabling ships and aircraft to determine their position by receiving very low frequency (VLF) radio signals in the range 10 to 14 kHz, transmitted by a global network of eight fixed terrestrial radio beacons, using a navigation receiver unit.

Typically these are taken in relation to fixed objects like prominent landmarks or the known location of radio transmission towers.

A variety of methods were developed to take fixes with relatively small angle inaccuracies, but even these were generally useful only for short-range systems.

By making two such measurements against widely separated stations, the resulting lines would overlap in two locations.

These locations were normally far enough apart to allow conventional navigation systems, like dead reckoning, to eliminate the incorrect position solution.

Key to the operation of the hyperbolic system was the use of one transmitter to broadcast the "master" signal, which was used by the "secondaries" as their trigger.

Very long-distance radio signalling is possible, using longwave techniques (low frequencies), which enables a planet-wide hyperbolic system.

However, at those ranges, radio signals do not travel in straight lines, but reflect off various regions above the Earth known collectively as the ionosphere.

By this time the Loran-C and Decca Navigator systems were dominant in the medium-range roles, and short-range was well served by VOR and DME.

TRANSIT was designed to allow measurements of location at any point on the planet, with enough accuracy to act as a reference for an inertial navigation system (INS).

Since the measurement is the Doppler shift of the carrier frequency, the rotation of the earth is sufficient to resolve the difference.

Omega was approved for development in 1968 with eight transmitters and the ability to achieve a 4-mile (6.4 km) accuracy when fixing a position.

Using hyperbolic geometry and radionavigation principles, a position fix with an accuracy on the order of 5–10 kilometres (3.1–6.2 mi) was realizable over the entire globe at any time of the day.

Omega employed hyperbolic radionavigation techniques and the chain operated in the VLF portion of the spectrum between 10 and 14 kHz.

Near the end of its service life of 26 years, Omega evolved into a system used primarily by the civil community.

[3] Decca had previously sued the US government for alleged patent infringements over the LORAN C system in 1967.

[4] Decca also won that case, but as the LORAN C navigation system was judged to be a military one without commercial use, no damages were paid by the US.

This explosion was recorded on the Richter Scale and parts of the bunker were found hundreds of metres away from ground zero.

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago dedicated April 26 each year as National Security Officers Day of Appreciation for the dead.

Paynesville Omega Transmitter (station B – 06°18′20″N 010°39′44″W / 6.30556°N 10.66222°W / 6.30556; -10.66222) was inaugurated in 1976 and used an umbrella antenna mounted on a 417-metre steel lattice, grounded guyed mast.

Episode 3 of the Netflix series Gamera Rebirth partially takes place at the Tsushima OMEGA-station.