Radar Basics

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Classification of Radar Sets (2)
Radar systems may be divided into types based on the designed use also. This section presents the general characteristics of several commonly used radar systems:

Radar Sets

military

civil

Air-Defense

Battlefield Radar

Air-Traffic Control

Miscellaneous

Surveillance Air-Policing Missile Control

Surveillance Navigation Weapon Control Missile Control

En-Route Radar ASR PAR ASDE Weather Radar

Weather Radar Speed Gaughes Cruise Control Material Tests Research

Multi Function Radars Active array MultiFunction Radars (MFRs) enable modern weapon systems to cope with saturation attacks of very small radar cross-section missiles in a concentrated jamming environment. Such MFRs have to provide a large number of fire-control channels, simultaneous tracking of both hostile and defending missiles, and mid-course guidance commands. The active phased-array antenna comprises flat sensor panels consisting of arrays of GaAs modules transmitting variable pulse patterns and building up a detailed picture of the surveillance area. A typical fixed array configuration system could consist of about 2,000 elements per panel, with four fixed panels. Each array panel can cover 90 in both elevation and azimuth to provide complete hemispherical coverage.

Multi Target Tracking Radar Operational functions of a MultiTarget Tracking Radar (MTTR) include:
z long-range search; z search information with high data rate for low-flying aircraft; z search information with high resolution of close in air targets; z automatic position and height information; z simultaneous tracking of a lot of aircraft targets; z target designation facilities for other systems.

Air Traffic Control Radar Sets Air traffic control radars are used both at civilian and military airports. Airborne radar is designed especially to meet the strict space and weight limitations that are necessary for all airborne equipment. Even so, airborne radar sets develop the same peak power as shipboard and shorebased sets. In fighter aircraft, the primary mission of a radar is to aid in the search, interception, and destruction of enemy aircraft. Air Surveillance Radar Sets (ASR) These radar equipment are used for the identification of aircrafts, determination of aircrafts approach sequence and for individual aircraft approach controls by Air Traffic Security operators. In mean time, these radars correlate the data obtained from other radar equipments such as Air Defence Radars or (excluding simple airfields) Mode-4 coordinatedatas of Secondary Radar equipment. These radar network could be used under all weather conditions. Surface Movement Radar (SMR) Surface Movement Radar (SMR) is the most widely used surveillance system for airport surveillance at present. SMR refers to primary radar that provide surveillance cover for the manoeuvring area, which is defined as that used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons. Air- Defense Radar Sets Air-Defense Radars can detect air targets and determine their position, course, and speed in a relatively large area. The maximum range of AirDefense Radar can exceed 300 miles, and the bearing coverage is a complete 360-degree circle.
Figure: TAFLIR of the Swiss Air Force

En-Route Radar En Route radars operates in Lband mostly and displays radar data to controllers in the en route environment at a maximum range up to 450 km.

Precision Approach Radar Sets (PAR) The precision approach radar guide aircraft to safe landing under conditions approaching zero visibility. By means of radar, aircraft are detected and observed during the final approach and landing sequence. Guidance information is supplied to the pilot in the form of verbal radio instructions, or to the automatic pilot (autopilot) in the form of pulsed control signals. Weather Radar Sets The weather data it finds could be used both for approach support and for feeding into the wider weather data concentration systems. The antenna rotation rate between systems is quite variable (3 to 6 rpm is common). Assuming multiple elevations are used, the weather picture gathered might be updated with a frequency of one minute and upwards (this depends on the complexity and number of the elevations required and the antenna rotation rate). Radar in recent years has become an important tool for the measurement of precipitation and the detection of hazardous weather conditions. Air- Surveillance Radar Sets Air-search radar systems initially detect and determine the position, course, and speed of air targets in a relatively large area. The maximum range of air-search radar can exceed 300 miles, and the bearing coverage is a complete 360-degree circle. Air-search radar systems are usually divided into two categories, based on the amount of position information supplied. Radar sets that provide only range and bearing information are referred to as two-dimensional, or 2D, radars. Radar sets that supply range, bearing, and height are called three-dimensional, or 3D, radars.
Figure: Lockheed Martins Air-surveillance radar AN/FPS 117

Battle Field Surveillance The battle field surveillance radar mission is to alert and or cue combat troops of hostile and unknown aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, protect friendly forces from fratricide and provide air situational data to command and control centers.
Figure: BOR-A 550

Mortar Locating Radar Sets A Mortar Locating Radar provides quick identification to pinpoint enemy mortar positions in map co-ordinates, enabling artillery units to launch counter attacks
Figure: COBRA - Mortar Radar

Air- Policing Another function of an air-search radar system is guiding combat air patrol (CAP) aircraft to a position suitable to intercept an enemy aircraft. In the case of aircraft control, the guidance information is obtained by the radar operator and passed to the aircraft by either voice radio or a computer link to the aircraft. In fighter aircraft, the primary mission of a radar is to aid in the search, interception, and Miscellaneous Civil Radar Ground-Penetrating Radar Navigation Missiles Guidance and Control Sets

Missile Control Radar A radar system that provides information used to guide a missile to a hostile target is called Guidance Radar. Missiles use radar to Speed Field RadarCruise Control Non-Destructive Radar-Controlled Sets Battle Gaughes Material Test

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Radar Basics

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destruction of enemy aircraft. This requires that the air borne radar system have a tracking feature.
Figure: The nose radar ECR 90 of the Eurofighter EF 2000

intercept targets in three basic ways: 1. 2. Beam-rider missiles follow a beam of radar energy that is kept continuously pointed at the desired target; homing missiles detect and home in on radar energy reflected from the target; the reflected energy is provided by a radar transmitter either in the missile or at the launch point and is detected by a receiver in the missile; passive homing missiles home in on energy that is radiated by the target.

3.

Figure: Rapier

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