Some common radar signatures include those produced by aircraft, ships, vehicles and ground installations. Each object generates a unique radar cross section (RCS) based on its size, shape, surface materials and orientation. These signatures help radar systems identify and track various targets.
The most common type of radar is pulse radar, which emits short bursts of radio frequency signals and measures the time it takes for the echoes to return.
Pulse radar is widely used in applications such as air traffic control, weather monitoring, and military surveillance due to its effectiveness in detecting distant objects.
Common radar waveforms include pulse waveforms, continuous waveforms, and frequency modulated continuous waveforms (FMCW).
Pulse waveforms are standard in traditional radar systems, while FMCW is often used in applications like automotive radar to detect distance and speed with high accuracy.
Common radar frequencies vary depending on the application, but generally range from L-band (1-2 GHz) to X-band (8-12 GHz) for most military and civilian radars. Each frequency band offers different advantages in terms of range, resolution and sensitivity to atmospheric conditions.
The most common type of radar scanner is the mechanically rotating scanner, which physically moves the antenna to cover a wide area.
This type is often found in marine and air traffic control radars. Solid-state phased array radars are also becoming more common, allowing electronic scanning without moving parts, providing faster and more accurate target tracking
