Radar target resolution refers to the ability of the radar system to distinguish between two or more spaced or more widely spaced objects. It is determined by factors such as pulse width, frequency and antenna characteristics. Higher resolution allows better discrimination between targets that are close to each other.
The range of a radar target is the distance between the radar system and the target object. This range is measured by the time it takes for the radar signal to travel to the target and back. The radar system calculates this distance using the speed of light and the delay between transmitted and received signals.
The resolution of a radar is calculated based on the pulse width and bandwidth of the radar system. For pulse radar, the resolution is approximately half the pulse width. In continuous wave radars, the resolution is determined by the bandwidth of the signal. Higher bandwidth and shorter pulse width result in better resolution.
The resolution of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is generally much finer than that of traditional radar systems. SAR achieves high resolution by using the movement of the radar platform to simulate a much larger antenna, enabling detailed imaging with resolutions down to the meter or sub-meter level.
A radar target is any object or entity that reflects radar signals to the radar system. The target can be anything from an aircraft or vehicle to weather phenomena or terrain features. The radar system detects and measures these reflections to determine the distance, speed and other characteristics of the target.