A manufacturer of drone detection radars points out that radar, as a critical type of electromagnetic sensor, is widely used in the fields of target detection and positioning. Its working principle involves emitting electromagnetic waves and receiving the echo signals reflected by targets, thereby obtaining key parameters such as distance, radial velocity, azimuth, and altitude. Radar is capable of operating in all weather conditions and at all times, functioning stably in complex meteorological environments such as day and night, rain, fog, and cloudy weather. It enables effective detection of long-range targets and possesses certain penetration capabilities. Therefore, radar is not only an indispensable core electronic equipment in the military field but also widely applied in socioeconomic development and scientific research.
During World War II, radar technology was first applied in the military field. A manufacturer of drone detection radars mentioned that at that time, the United Kingdom deployed radar systems along the coast of the English Channel, successfully achieving early warning of German aircraft and playing a key role in winning the Battle of Britain. The functionality of radar during this period was relatively basic, primarily including distance measurement and azimuth detection.
After the war, radar technology developed rapidly. A manufacturer of drone detection radars stated that new types of radar systems emerged successively, such as monopulse angle tracking, pulse-Doppler signal processing, high-resolution synthetic aperture, and pulse compression. Meanwhile, the integration of radar with IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), computer-automated fire control systems, terrain avoidance and terrain-following technologies, active/passive phased arrays, frequency agility, and the expansion of functions such as multi-target detection and tracking significantly enhanced the overall performance of radar.
With continuous advancements in microelectronics and other technologies, radar system architectures have become increasingly complex. Although different radars vary in purpose and structure, their basic components typically include a transmitter, transmitting antenna, receiver, receiving antenna, signal processing unit, and display, supplemented by auxiliary systems such as power supply equipment, data acquisition devices, and anti-jamming equipment.
Regarding frequency band applications, a manufacturer of drone detection radars emphasized that radar typically uses band codes to identify its operating frequency range. Currently, the vast majority of radars operate between 0.003 GHz (HF band) and 110 GHz (W band), while the terahertz frequency band above 110 GHz remains in the research and exploration stage. Different frequency bands possess different characteristics and are suitable for various application scenarios. For example, the S band is susceptible to rain clutter and is commonly used in long-range weather radars that require accurate estimation of rainfall rates. Generally, the lower the frequency, the wider the antenna beam and the relatively lower measurement accuracy, making it more suitable for large-scale rough searches. The higher the frequency, the narrower the beam and the higher the accuracy, making it suitable for small-scale high-precision tracking.
As a highly complex electronic system, the development of radar relies on the collaborative progress of multiple technological fields. A manufacturer of drone detection radars believes that radar has now formed a diverse technological system, with each type of radar demonstrating unique advantages in certain key technologies.