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‡ RADAR is stand for Radio Detection And
Ranging.
‡ Radar is an object detection system that
uses electromagnetic waves to identify the
range, altitude, direction, or speed of both
moving and fixed objects such as aircraft,
ships, motor vehicles, weather formations
& obstacles (mountain, trees, etc.)
 Radar Applications/Uses
‡ Radar uses include:
±Air traffic control
±Weather Forecasting,
±Measuring ocean surface waves
±Police detection of speeding traffic
±Satellite
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 Kow Radar Works
‡ A radar system (ground-based) has a transmitter
that emits radio waves or microwaves signal.
‡ The signal hit airplane and reflect back.
‡ Ground-based radar picks up reflected signal
during a break between transmissions.
‡ The time taken for the reflected signal to return
back enables a computer calculate how far the
object is (range).
‡ The aircraft data then sent and shown on a
Radar Display.
 Most conventional aircraft have a rounded
shape. This shape creates a very efficient
radar reflector. Means that no matter where
the radar signal hits the plane, some of the
signal gets reflected back
 F-22 Raptor

B-2 Spirit stealth

bomber of the U.S Air
Force

An F-117 Nighthawk stealth strike aircraft

Kowever, some military aircraft are designed

and constructed to be non-reflective - the
so-called ³
 
 

 A stealth aircraft is made up of completely flat
surfaces and very sharp edges. When a radar
signal hits a stealth plane, the signal reflects
away at an angle. Surfaces on a stealth aircraft
also can absorb radar energy as well. So, this
aircraft become invisible.
 The Range
‡ Distance from the
radar
‡ Measured from time
delay between
transmitted pulse and
returned signal
received
 The Range
‡ Remember, in general v=d/t and d=vt
‡ The range is just a distance
‡ Since radio waves travel at the speed of
light (v = c = 300,000 km/sec )
range = c‡time/2
‡ Why divided by 2?
 The Range
‡ The ³2´ is because the measured time is
for a round trip to and from the target. To
determine the range, you only want the
time to the object, so you take half!
Radar Frequencies
 ATC Radars
‡ Surface Movement Radar (SMR): Short-
range ground radar
‡ Terminal Approach Radar (TAR): Long-
range ground radar
± Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR)
± Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR)
Surface Movement Radar
(SMR)
 þ   c
þc
‡ The surface movement radar
(SMR) allows the Air Traffic
Controller to 'see' in real time the
aircraft and vehicles movements
into the airport control area.

‡ Surface movement radar can

improve both safety and
efficiency of airport traffic by
providing the ground controller
with a clear picture of the areas
or under poor visibility þ





conditions.  
Terminal Approach Radar (TAR)
Terminal Approach Radar (TAR)
‡ A high definition radio detection device
which provides information on
identification, air speed, direction and
altitude of aircraft to assist air traffic
controllers to track the position of aircraft
in the air within the vicinity of the airport.
Radar Display
Radar Display
What appear on
radar display?
‡ Aircraft Identity.
‡ Altitude
‡ Speed
‡ Direction
‡ Example
‡ MK092 FL280
‡ 585å
‡ Meaning: Flight
Malaysian 092
cruising at
28¶000ft with
speed of
585knots
Radar Frequency Band
Frequency Bands for ATC Radars?
‡ L-Band Radar (En-Route Radar):
± This frequency band (1 to 2 GK ) is preferred for
the operation of  

 
 
radars out to 250 NM !"##$ 

‡ S-Band Radar (Terminal Approach Radar -TAR):

± This frequency band (2 to 4 GK ) are used near
airports to detect and display the 

 
  


with a medium
range up to 50-60 NM !%##$ 

‡ K- and Ka- Band Radars (Surface Movement Radar)

± This frequency bands (18-40 GK ) provide short
range, very high resolution data.
Primary Surveillance Radar
(PSR)
 Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR)
‡ First ATC radar developed.
‡ The advantage PSR is that it operates
totally independently of the target aircraft.
‡ Means that no action from the aircraft is
required for it to provide a radar return.
‡ Only provide range & direction information

Primary Radar
 Disadvantages of Primary
Surveillance Radar (PSR)
‡ First, transmitted signal is limited by µline of
sight¶, thus signal can be interrupted by
buildings, hills & mountains.
‡ Second, more power must be radiated to ensure
returns from the target.
‡ Third, because of the small amount of energy
returned at the receiver, reflected signals may
be easily disrupted. This may cause the
displayed target to 'fadeµ (not clear).
Secondary Surveillance Radar
(SSR)
 Characteristics of Secondary
Surveillance Radar (SSR)
‡ SSR is a much more accurate that complements the
basic PSR.
‡ SSR is smaller than PSR, it can be installed either singly
or co-mounted with PSR.
‡ SSR relies on a piece of equipment on the aircraft known
as a 'transponder'.
‡ The transponder is a radio receiver and transmitter
which receives on one frequency (1030 MK ) and
transmits on another (1090 MK ).
‡ SSR will detect the identification of the aircraft, the
height of aircraft, speed and direction of flight.
‡ These information are transmitted back by the Aircraft¶s
Transponder on the 1030 MK back to the ground
SSR¶s Antennae
 Advantages of Secondary
Surveillance Radar SSR
‡ First, reply signal is much stronger when
received at the ground, thus giving the possibility
of much greater range.
‡ Second, low power required to radiate the
signals, thus reduce the cost.
‡ Third, provides more information: aircraft¶s
identity, altitude & speed.
‡ Fourth, SSR gives a clearer display because
there is no weather or ground return.
‡ Fifth, It is easier to identify aircraft on SSR.
Weather Radar
 Radar Can Measure Pressure

‡ The strength of the echo received from the

ionosphere measures the number of
electrons able to scatter radio waves or
what we call electron pressure
 Radar Can Measure Temperature
‡ Some electrons are
moving due to heat - In
this case the echo is
scattered
‡ The echo will contain a
range of frequencies
close to the transmitter
frequency
‡ As the temperature
increases, the electrons
move faster
‡ So radar can act like a
thermometer and
measure the temperature
of the ionosphere
 Radar Can Measure Wind Speed
‡ When an electron is
removed from an atom,
the remaining charged
atom is called an ion
‡ The ion gas can have a
different temperature
from the electron gas
‡ The electron/ion mixture
is known as a plasma and
is usually in motion (like
our wind)
‡ So incoherent scatter
radar can also measure
wind speed