The identification problem of output-error autoregressive (OEAR) systems with scarce measurements is considered in this paper. In order to overcome the massive absence of outputs, an interval-varying recursive identification algorithm is proposed through changing the sampling interval and skipping the missing outputs. Based on the maximum likelihood principle, a maximum likelihood interval-varying recursive least squares algorithm is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is tested by a numerical simulation example, and an application example about the heading motion control of underwater vehicle.