TRACKING RADAR
Radar Glossary
Radar — Tracking Radar
Information on Tracking Radar
Tracking radar aims to accurately track the target in
range, velocity or most commonly bearing.
There are two main types
of tracking radar: single-target tracking radar (continuous tracking
radar) and multiple-target tracking radar (track while scan).
Single-target
tracking radar observes only one target at a time.
Initial search and acquisition of the target is normally done
by a separate radar and the target is handed over
to the tracking radar. Single-target tracking radars maintain continuous
contact with the target and are, therefore, continually illuminating the
target with electromagnetic energy. An example of a single-target tracking
radar is a tracking and illuminating radar for a
semi-active homing missile.
Multiple-target tracking radar maintains tracking information on
a number of targets. This radar normally operates in a
number of different modes (track-while-scan (TWS) being one of them)
and therefore normally performs its own search and acquisition tasks.
TWS radars do not maintain continual contact with any one
target as the radar continues to scan other sectors while
maintaining the track on its established targets. Airborne early-warning radars
and air superiority multimode radars are examples of radar systems
that can benefit from TWS techniques.
Here we focus on single-target
tracking radar to explain the concepts and techniques used
to track targets.
Other topics in our resources on Radar related to Tracking Radar include:
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