Ground Radar

Ground radar is a broad term that can refer to any type of radar system that is positioned on the ground. It is used for a variety of purposes, including weather monitoring, military surveillance, and space surveillance. The range of a ground radar system depends on the type of radar and the power of the transmitter.

Military Ground Radar

Military ground radar is a type of radar system used to detect and track aircrafts, ships, and other objects that potentially pose a threat to national security. It can also be used for guiding missiles and other weapons systems. These powerful systems are key to gathering valuable information, especially for protecting people and infrastructure from attacks.

Common types of military ground radar include:

• Air surveillance radar: Air surveillance radar tracks aircraft and other airborne objects. These radar systems have a long range to enable detection of objects at high altitudes.
• Ground surveillance radar: Ground surveillance radar tracks ground vehicles, personnel, and other objects on the ground. With a shorter range than air surveillance radar, ground surveillance radar is designed for detecting objects closer to the radar system.
• Counter-battery radar: Counter-battery radar is used to detect and track enemy artillery fire. These radar systems typically have a very short range, but they can be used to detect artillery fire that is very close to the radar system.

Weather Ground Radar

Weather radar, also called weather ground radar, detects precipitation in the atmosphere such as rain, snow, and hail. Meteorologists use this essential tool for forecasting weather conditions and monitoring severe events. These systems can be found at airports, weather stations, or other strategic locations.

Weather radar typically:

• Measures wind speed and direction
• Track storm movement
• Track precipitation movement

The two main types of weather ground radar are pulsed radar and continuous-wave radar. Pulsed radar uses short bursts of radio waves and their echoes to measure distance to precipitation. Continuous-wave radar uses a constant stream of radio waves and the strength of their reflection to measure distance to precipitation. Pulsed radar is typically used for longer distances and continuous-wave is typically used for shorter distances.

Space Surveillance Radar

Space surveillance radar systems detect and track objects in space such as satellites, spacecrafts, and missiles. These radar systems are powerful enough to detect objects at long ranges but are expensive and complex to operate. Space surveillance radar systems are typically used for:

• Space object cataloguing: Tracks and records all man-made objects in space to avoid collisions with themselves or other objects in space
• Space situational awareness (SSA): Tracks the location, movement, and capabilities of objects in space for risk assessment and preparing for potential threats
• Space debris tracking: Tracks space debris for risk assessment and mitigation efforts

Coaxial Cables for Ground Radar Systems

No matter the application of a ground radar system, RF cables provide a reliable and efficient way to transmit and receive RF signals from the antenna to the radar’s electronic components. The connection of these coaxial cables ensures the RF signals can be transmitted and received with minimal loss, as they require high accuracy and consistency. Depending on the specifics of the ground radar application, the type of coaxial cable used can vary.

Advantages of RF cables for ground radar include:

• Wide frequency range
• Low loss
• High reliability
• Lightweight

Coaxial cable failure can lead to several issues, including loss of radar capability, signal attenuation, and interference. To prevent coaxial cable failures, ground radar systems are typically designed with multiple coaxial cables as the connection between the transmitter and receiver. These systems also undergo rigorous testing, particularly environmental testing, to ensure the coaxial cables will withstand the environment. To reduce risk of cable failure, inspect cables regularly, install high-quality cables, make sure installations are done properly, and replace cables at the first sign of damage or inconsistency.