A rotating radar refers to a radar system equipped with an antenna that rotates around a vertical axis. This rotating motion allows the radar to scan the surrounding environment in all directions, typically in a 360-degree circle. The rotating antenna emits pulses of electromagnetic waves and detects echoes reflected from objects within its coverage area. By rotating continuously, the radar antenna sweeps the emitted beam across the azimuthal plane, allowing it to detect and track targets such as ships, aircraft or weather phenomena at various angles relative to the radar’s position.
Rotating radars are commonly used in applications requiring comprehensive surveillance, navigation and sensing capabilities, such as in military operations, air traffic control and maritime navigation.
The primary reason for rotating the radar is to obtain complete coverage of the airspace or terrain surrounding the radar installation. By rotating the radar antenna, the system can scan the entire azimuthal plane, ensuring that it detects and tracks targets from all directions.
This scanning capability is essential for monitoring and surveillance applications where situational awareness and early detection of threats or hazards are essential. The rotational movement allows the radar to continuously transmit and receive pulses of electromagnetic waves, providing real-time information on the location, speed and direction of targets within its operational range.
In military contexts, rotating radars enhance defense capabilities by enabling timely detection and tracking of airborne and surface threats.
In ships, radar systems are broadly classified into two main types: navigation radar and surface search radar. Navigation radar is mainly used for collision avoidance and safe navigation at sea. It provides information about nearby ships, coastlines and navigation hazards by displaying their positions relative to the ship.
Navigation radars typically operate in the X-band or S-band frequency ranges and are optimized for short to medium detection and precise targeting. Surface search radar, on the other hand, is designed for broader surveillance tasks. It scans larger areas of the sea surface to detect and track ships, planes and other objects at greater distances. Surface search radars often operate in the S-band or C-band frequency ranges and are essential for maritime surveillance, defense operations and search and rescue missions.
Each type of radar on ships serves distinct purposes to improve navigation safety, situational awareness and operational efficiency at sea