How Radar Works?

How Radar Works?

Radar stands for Radio Detection and Ranging. The primary concept behind the radar is reflection of electromagnetic signals from the target. The radar transmitter sends the pulse of electromagnetic energy which hits the target and some part of energy will be reflected towards transmitter. By analyzing the reflecting echo radar system detects the target position, velocity, altitude etc. Mainly there are two types of radar:

1.      Primary Radar

2.      Seconday Radar

The operating principle of primary radar is simple. Primary Radar deals with passive echoes. Passive echoes means it gets some part of its own transmitted energy through reflection. Thus, Radar receiver receives very weak signal. On the other hand Secondary Radar works on active echoes . It contains transponder . This works properly in transponder friendly environment . Since the transponder send its own signal, receiver get strong signal. The transponder receives signal from transmitter, decodes it , and give reply with new signal in new frequency band. Uplink frequency and downlink frequency is different (uplink-1030Mhz ,downlink-1090Mhz) which helps to  mitigate interference. Identification of Friends or Foe is the main advantage of Secondary Radar . IFF was not possible in Primary Radar.

Applications of Radar:

1.      Air Traffic Control and Navigation

2.      Weather Forecasting

3.      Defense

4.      Ground Mapping

5.      Biological Research

6.      Missile guidance etc.