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GiTS
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I understand the theory of radar but not aviation radar. It is my understanding they can find an objects position in the x, y, and z axis simultaneously. How does that work?
GiTS said:ok. thank you. So how do radar guidance systems or jetplanes find a target in 3 dimensional space? A vertical and horizontal sweeping radar?
Civil aircraft don't carry primary radar, the position of other planes and the collision avoidance is managed by the transponders.GiTS said:ok. thank you. So how do radar guidance systems or jetplanes find a target in 3 dimensional space?
Actually r, theta and phi, not x,y,z. Search and tracking are done with different modes, and sometimes by different radars. A search radar sweeps a beam which might be large. Air traffic control radars use an antenna shaped like a part of a cylinder (or paraboloid). They're wide in the rotation direction to provide a narrow beam in azimuth angle phi, but short in height to provide a fan that covers from ground to high altitudes. Phi is read off from the antenna pointing angle when a target is detected.GiTS said:I understand the theory of radar but not aviation radar. It is my understanding they can find an objects position in the x, y, and z axis simultaneously. How does that work?
Aviation radar works by sending out a high frequency radio wave in a specific direction. If this wave hits an object, it will bounce off of it and return to the radar. The radar then measures the time it takes for the wave to return and calculates the distance and location of the object.
The range of aviation radar can vary depending on the type of radar and its power, but typically it can detect objects up to several hundred kilometers away.
Aviation radar is designed to filter out any interference caused by bad weather conditions, such as rain or snow. This is done by adjusting the power, frequency, and pulse length of the radar wave to minimize the effects of the weather.
Aviation radar uses a technique called "primary surveillance radar" to detect any object in the sky, including aircraft. However, to differentiate between different types of aircraft, secondary surveillance radar is used. This type of radar relies on transponders installed on aircraft that transmit a unique identification code which is then received and displayed by the radar.
Yes, aviation radar can be used to track military aircraft. However, military aircraft often use special techniques to avoid detection, such as flying at low altitudes, using stealth technology, or jamming radar signals. Additionally, some countries may have restricted airspace where military aircraft are not allowed to be tracked by civilian radars.