FIRE-CONTROL RADAR
Radar that provides continuous positional data is
called a tracking radar. Most tracking radar systems
used by the military are also called fire-control
Track Phase: The fire-control radar enters
into the track phase when the target is located.
The radar system locks onto the target during
this phase.
radars, the two names being interchangeable. A fire-
Typical fire-control radar characteristics include
control tracking radar system usually produces a very
high pulse-repetition frequency, a very narrow pulse-
narrow, circular beam.
width, and a very narrow beamwidth. A typical fire-
control antenna is shown in figure 1-6.
The three sequential phases of radar operation
(designation, acquisition, and track) are often referred
to as modes and are common to the target-processing
sequence of most fire-control radars.
Designation Phase: The fire-control radar
must be directed to the general location of the
target due to the radar’s narrow beamwidth.
Acquisition Phase: The fire-control radar
switches to the acquisition phase of operation
once the radar is in the general vicinity of the
target. During this phase, the radar system
searches in the designated area in a predeter-
mined search pattern until the target is located
or redesignated.
1-10
Figure 1-6.—Typical
fire-control antenna.
