How does passive radar work?

In this article, you will discover How does passive radar work?, What is the difference between active radar and passive radar?, Can passive radar be jammed?

How does passive radar work?

Passive radar works by detecting and analyzing signals from existing transmitters, such as commercial radio or television broadcasts, rather than emitting its own signals. The system uses these ambient signals, which are reflected onto targets, to identify and track objects. By comparing reflected signals with direct signals, passive radar can determine the location, speed and movement of targets.

The difference between active radar and passive radar is how they work. Active radar systems emit their own signals and measure reflections from targets to detect and track them. In contrast, passive radar systems rely on external sources of electromagnetic signals and analyze reflections from these sources to detect and track targets. Active radar provides its own illumination, while passive radar uses existing signals in the environment.

What is the difference between active radar and passive radar?

Passive radar can be more difficult to jam compared to active radar because it does not transmit any signals. Since it relies on external sources of signals, jamming would require interfering with the original signal sources, which is generally more difficult. However, advanced jamming techniques could still potentially affect passive radar performance by modifying or masking the ambient signals it relies on.

Can passive radar be jammed?

Disadvantages of passive radar include its dependence on the availability of external signal sources, which limits its effectiveness in areas with weak or non-ambient signals. Additionally, passive radar systems may have lower resolution and range compared to active radar systems. They may also struggle in environments with clutter or heavy signal interference, which can make it difficult to detect and track targets.

Passive coherent location (PCL) works by using signals from existing transmitters, such as commercial television or radio stations, and analyzing the reflections of these signals from objects in the environment. The system correlates reflected signals with direct signals to identify the presence, position and movement of targets. PCL exploits the principles of radar but without generating its own signal, making it a form of passive radar that capitalizes on ambient signal sources.

We hope this overview of How does passive radar work? has made things clearer.