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How Radar Works: Start Learning About EW Here

How the Radar System Works: Defence and Science

Radar: Your essential tool for safe flying

Radar had its birth in 1886 when Heinrich Hertz demonstrated that radio waves would reflect off of solid objects. 

As usual, war - specifically, the Second World War - spurred forward the development of Radio Detection and Ranging ('Radar' is just an acronym).  

Simply, radar works by sending a signal from a station in a certain direction. The signal will bounce back towards the station if it encounters a solid object. 

Over time we have been able to adjust the strength of our outgoing signals and the sensitivity of our receiver to enable modern day radar to tell us how solid the object is (rain, snow, ice or mountain) and in what direction the object is moving. All very helpful in weather forecasting. 

In aviation, radar is used to track aircraft movement both on ground and in the air. But, behind there’s also a radar behind the round front nose cone of most every aircraft. This helps pilots find other aircraft and, of course, avoid nasty weather and 'granite clouds.'

Great strides have been made in aviation radar in the past 20 years. Pilots can adjust the angle of their radar to inspect the height of clouds ahead and even abeam their planes. They can also look ahead up to several hundred kilometers, allowing themselves the option of avoiding developing weather altogether. 

Under development right now is Lidar. This uses lasers rather than radio waves to detect movement in molecules. 

When we can track movement on that small a scale we will then be able to see areas of turbulent air long before we fly into it.  

There are also developments aimed at making radar become predictive. In essence, it will model what a storm cloud will likely do by the time the aircraft is projected to be near it. That way, aviators can plan their storm avoidance long before they actually near threatening weather. 

Source

Video Lecture on Absorption of the Atmosphere

Rockwell Collins unveils new MultiScan ThreatTrack™ weather radar

• Uses Predictive Overflight™ to identify significant turbulence threats above rapidly growing thunderstorms

• First radar in industry to feature two levels of turbulence detection

• American Airlines to take first delivery on new Next-Generation Boeing 737

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Feb. 4. 2014) – Rockwell Collins today unveiled its new MultiScan ThreatTrack™ weather radar, which provides unprecedented atmospheric threat assessment capabilities for air transport aircraft. The company will be showcasing the new system at next week’s Singapore Airshow.

MultiScan ThreatTrack builds upon Rockwell Collins’ market-leading MultiScan weather radar to deliver additional features and to further increase safety and efficiency. For example, the system’s advanced capabilities go beyond hail and lightning prediction within a thunderstorm cell and alerts pilots to these significant threats adjacent to the cell. If these thunderstorms are growing ahead and below the aircraft, ThreatTrack’s Predictive Overflight™ protection warns the flight crew if the cells will be in the aircraft’s flight path.

 

In addition, MultiScan ThreatTrack is the first in the industry to feature two levels of turbulence detection — severe and ride-quality—which more accurately informs flight crews of the type of turbulence in their path.

American Airlines is debuting the new radar, which was developed with extensive meteorological research and rigorous flight testing around the world, on its new Next-Generation Boeing 737 fleet.

“Working with American and Boeing, we certified a more comprehensive radar system that improves flight operations efficiency by helping pilots better navigate disruptive weather threats,” said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Air Transport Systems for Rockwell Collins. “With MultiScan ThreatTrack, passenger satisfaction will increase with smoother flights and more on-time arrivals.”

“American Airlines is pleased to collaborate with Rockwell Collins on the successful certification and entry into service of MultiScan ThreatTrack,” said Capt. Brian Will, director of Airspace Modernization and Advanced Technologies at American Airlines. “The system’s capabilities, including its advanced environmental threat detection logic, will help American continue to provide the safest and most efficient operation possible.”

In a research project sponsored by the NASA Weather Accident Prevention Project, data examined over the past two decades indicates that turbulence resulting in minor or major injury has cost airlines anywhere from $28,000 to $167,000 per incident. With an average of 750 turbulence encounters per year, the resulting cost to the industry can be $30 to $60 million per year. Lightning and hail damage to aircraft can increase the related costs exponentially.

MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar is the first fully certified airborne weather radar with the following capabilities for new Next-Generation Boeing 737s:

• Patented Track-While-Scan Technology prioritizes weather threats out to 320 nm by performing dedicated horizontal and vertical scans on developed or fast-growing convective cells that pose an actual threat.

• Core Threat Assessment examines thunderstorm cells and increases the displayed colors to better represent the actual thunderstorm threat.

• Associated Threat Assessment infers lightning, hail and convective threat potential within and external to a thunderstorm core.

• Predictive OverFlight™ Protection tracks thunderstorm cells ahead and below the aircraft, measures growth rate, predicts bow-wave turbulence and indicates potential threats in aircraft’s flight path.

• Two-level Enhanced Turbulence Detection detects severe and ride-quality turbulence up to 40 nm ahead of the aircraft.

• Predictive Windshear Detection with windshear event data recording and retrieval.

• Geographic Weather Correlation utilizes a database of geographic and seasonal weather variations that enhance MultiScan ThreatTrack’s algorithms to provide accurate worldwide hazard information.

MultiScan ThreatTrack is expected to be certified for Boeing 777 aircraft next month.

Rockwell Collins press release – Source

Thales Active Phased Array Radar excels in ESSM firings from new Danish Frigate

The trial, executed on 21 November 2013, consisted of four Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) being directed by APAR to four targets. The trial was successful: all launched missiles performed a successful intercept. In the first part of the trial, a Banshee drone was eliminated by a missile launched by the new Royal Danish Navy Frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (Iver Huitfeldt-class).

The new Royal Danish Navy Frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (Iver Huitfeldt-class)
Picture: Berg2

With pinpoint accuracy APAR guided the missile to the target, resulting in a successful threat elimination. Subsequently, three Banshee drones were launched simultaneously, necessitating the launch and guidance of three missiles. Thanks to APAR’s unique Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination technology, enabling the simultaneous guidance of multiple missiles to various targets; this part of the trial was also successful.
The trials were performed at the Missile Test Range off the Scottish coast in the Atlantic Ocean. HDMS Peter Willemoes was escorted by HDMS Niels Juel.

Gerben Edelijn, Thales Nederland’s CEO says: “This excellent result proves that Thales’ APAR and the unique technology are the standard in missile guidance.”

HDMS Peter Willemoes is one of the three Iver Huitfeldt class air defence frigates of the Royal Danish Navy. The other two ships are HDMS Iver Huitfeldt and HDMS Niels Juel. These ships share their Anti-Warfare suite with the Royal Netherlands Navy’s De Zeven Provincien-class frigates and the German Navy’s Sachsen-class frigates. The Thales sensors of this suite include the long range surveillance radar SMART-L and the multi-function radar APAR.

 

Video: Royal Danish Navy

Source

MEADS Dual Intercept Flight Test 02

The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) intercepted and destroyed two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions during a stressing demonstration of its 360-degree air and missile defense (AMD) capabilities at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The flight test achieved all criteria for success. Learn more…

MEADS International, a multinational joint venture headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is the prime contractor for the MEADS system. Major subcontractors and joint venture partners are MBDA in Italy and Germany, and Lockheed Martin in the United States. The MEADS program management agency NAMEADSMA is located in Huntsville, Ala.

Marketing video Russian Air Defense Systems S-400, Buk M2 and Tor M2

Surface To Air Missile Testing S-400

Raytheon's Advanced Combat Radar (RACR)

Engaging scenario-based video about RACR, Raytheon's plug-and-play solution for the F-16 Falcon. Also includes information about other Raytheon products for the F-16.

NATO - Ballistic Missile Defence Overview

Thales naval radars at IndoDefence 2012

Thales is at the forefront of developing new naval solutions to meet evolving environmental and security challenges. The Group has been a long-term partner for more than 50 Navies worldwide, providing customers with innovating offerings, from system design to through-life support. At IndoDefence 2012, Thales was showcasing its SMART-S Mk2 and VARIANT radars. Both types are already selected by the Indonesian Navy.

Albert Willemsen, Regional Export Marketing & Sales Director Asia,
presents the Thales Naval Radars on display during Indodefence 2012

SMART-S Mk2 Link to Thales Smart-S Mk2 datasheet

Smart-S Mk2 is the continuous evolution of Thales proven 3D multi-beam radar family. This radar operates in E/F-band (or S-band) and is optimised for surveillance of 250 km with 70º elevation overage, target designation and undisturbed air and surface target tracking in littoral environments. Development of Smart-S Mk2 started in 2003 and at present no less than 40 systems have been sold. Smart-S Mk2 matches the full performance envelope of modern surface-to-air missiles, with direct assignment of VL-MICA, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and is suitable as a main air and surface surveillance radar for corvettes, frigates and amphibious ships. The radar offers two main modes, a special helicopter/UAS guidance capability and three surface fire control channels.

The SMART-S Mk2 has been selected to equip the future Indonesian Navy corvettes KPR. It has also been selected to upgrade the existing French Navy Cassard class Anti-Aircraft Frigates.

Thales VARIANT radar is currently in use by the Indonesian Navy as well as 8 other navies worldwide (Picture: Thales)

VARIANT
Variant is a multipurpose, short/medium range (70 km) 2D radar, simultaneously operating in the X and C-band for air and surface surveillance. Its principal role is as an automatic, fast reaction time radar sensor supplying targeting data to weapon systems. Its extensive features make Variant the answer in modern warfare, littoral and asymmetric threat environments. Variant provides air tracks without any operator intervention (auto target initiation and tracking). For surface targets, two fire control channels are available to support direct target engagement. The system is completed by an integrated Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) surface surveillance radar (SCOUT).

VARIANT has also been selected by the Indonesian Navy and is currently deployed onboard their Todak class Fast Patrol Boat

Many Thales systems will be onboard the future Indonesian Navy SIGMA PKR 10514 (Picture: Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding)

The Shipyard Royal Schelde and Thales deliver a wide range of products on the two corvettes that Royal Schelde has built for the Indonesian Navy. Thales supplies the ship's above-water defence system, the communication equipment and the sonar system. The first ship was commissioned in 2007. The corvettes are deployed by the Indonesian Navy chiefly for patrol duties in the Indonesian archipelago in order to combat smuggling, illegal fishery and piracy, especially in the Strait of Malacca. The above water defence systems installed on the corvettes, include: the TACTICOS, scaleable combat management system, the MW08 3D multiband surveillance radar, the LIROD Mk2 tracking radar, the LINK Y Mk2 datalink system and Target Designation Sights. For under water defence capability, the Thales Kingklip medium frequency active/passive Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) hull-mounted sonar has been selected. The corvettes' naval communication systems have been developed by Thales, based on the FOCON system. Thales has integrated the complete combat system on these corvettes.

Source

SABR AESA Radar for the F-16

Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), designed specifically for the F-16, is the newest addition to the Northrop Grumman robust family of multi-function sensors. By leveraging Northrop Grumman's world-leading Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology base, SABR maximizes radar system performance within existing F-16 allocations. SABR has been chosen for the F-16 AESA upgrade program.

Thales in the Netherlands - Short version

Lockheed Martin - Air and Missile Defense Radar S-Band (AMDR-S) Digital Array Radar

Lockheed Martin selected to demonstrate designs for next phase of Navy's Air and Missile Defense Radar program.

A $119 million U.S. Navy contract, awarded Sept. 30, advances Lockheed Martin another step in the Navy's competition for the next generation naval radar system capable of defeating anti-ship and ballistic missile threats.
Currently, the Navy's Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) program is focused on developing and demonstrating an entirely new S-band radar and a scalable radar suite controller for multiple ship platforms, performing multiple missions, in the Fleet. The Navy began its AMDR program by awarding Lockheed Martin and two other contractors concept studies contracts in 2009. This new contract begins a 24-month technology demonstration phase, where Lockheed Martin and three other competitors now will show the Navy how their conceptual designs actually work.
"AMDR is an important program for Lockheed Martin and we are look forward to executing the technology demonstration phase contract. Our high performance radar suite is capable of supporting simultaneous, multi-mission operations in stressing environments while maintaining affordable lifecycle costs," said Carl Bannar, vice president of Radar Systems. "Our modular, open-architecture design for AMDR incorporates technologies matured through significant investment by our company and the Navy."
Lockheed Martin is a leader in S-band radar development and production, with more than 40 years of experience in the design, production and sustainment of naval radars for surface combatants. The company's SPY-1 family of radars -- with proven anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense multi-mission capability -- is fielded on nearly 100 surface combatants worldwide.

Под Иркутском взорвали крупнейшую РЛС

Строили долго, взорвали быстро. В Усольском районе, недалеко от деревни Мишелёвка, ликвидировали радиолокационную станцию "Дарьял-У" системы предупреждения о ракетном нападении.

Проезда нет. За два часа до взрыва все подъезды к месту перекрыты. Солдаты находятся в веселом настроении. Как-никак на природе, это не по плацу ходить. А вот у сотрудников дорожной полиции нервного общения больше.

До деревни Мишелевка от военного объекта пару километров по прямой. О взрыве командование войсковой части предупредило заранее. В специальных листовках объяснили, что все под контролем. Однако слухи по поселку гуляли разные.

- Говорили, что много взрывчатки заложили, что будет очень сильный взрыв, - говорит жительница пос. Мишелевка Татьяна Касинцева.

One day of traffic in Europe

Sound mirrors video

Sound of the Duga-3 transmitter

The Russian Woodpecker (DUGA-3 near Chernobyl, Ukraine) early warning radar was a notorious Soviet signal that could be heard on the shortwave radio bands worldwide between July 1976 and December 1989. It sounded like a sharp, repetitive tapping noise, at 10 Hz, giving rise to the "Woodpecker" name.