What do the main radar parameters mean？

The main parameter indicators of radar and their meanings are as follows:

The operating frequency refers to the frequency of the electromagnetic wave emitted by the radar.

Meaning: Different operating frequencies determine the detection performance and application scenarios of the radar. Radars with lower frequencies (such as VHF and UHF bands) have a longer detection range and can penetrate certain obstacles, but the resolution is relatively low. Radars with higher frequencies (such as X-band, Ku-band, etc.) have higher resolution and can detect targets more finely, but the detection range may be relatively short and is greatly affected by atmospheric attenuation. For example, weather radars usually operate at lower frequencies to achieve large-scale meteorological monitoring, while millimeter-wave radars are used in fields such as automotive autonomous driving for short-distance and high-resolution target detection.

Transmitted power refers to the radio frequency power output by the radar transmitter.

Meaning: The greater the transmitted power, the stronger the electromagnetic wave energy emitted by the radar. Under the same conditions, it can detect targets at a longer distance. However, an increase in transmitted power also brings problems such as equipment cost, power consumption, and heat dissipation. For example, in military applications, high-power radars can detect enemy targets at long distances, but at the same time, they are easily detected by the enemy's electronic reconnaissance equipment. In some miniaturized civil radars, it is necessary to achieve the best possible detection performance under limited power.

Antenna gain represents the ability of the antenna to concentrate the input power for radiation.

Meaning: A high-gain antenna can make the electromagnetic wave emitted by the radar radiate more concentratedly in a specific direction. At the same time, it can also receive the echo signal from the target more effectively, thereby improving the detection range and resolution of the radar. Antenna gain is usually related to the size, shape, and design of the antenna. For example, parabolic antennas have high gain and are often used in radars for long-distance detection. Small antennas such as microstrip antennas have relatively low gain and are suitable for application scenarios with strict requirements on volume and weight.

Beam width is divided into horizontal beam width and vertical beam width. It is an index that measures the directionality of radar antenna radiation.

Meaning: The smaller the beam width, the better the directionality of the radar and the more accurately the target can be located. A narrow beam can reduce interference from other directions, but requires more precise antenna pointing control. For example, when a radar tracks a target, a narrow beam can lock the target more accurately and reduce the possibility of false tracking. A wide-beam radar can search in a large range, but the positioning accuracy of the target is relatively low.

Meaning: Refers to the ability of the radar to distinguish two adjacent targets in distance. Range resolution depends on the bandwidth of the radar transmission signal. The larger the bandwidth, the higher the range resolution. For example, high-resolution radars can distinguish two closely spaced targets and play an important role in target recognition and accurate measurement. For military reconnaissance radars, high range resolution can more accurately determine the location and quantity of targets. In the civilian field, such as terrain mapping radars, high range resolution can generate more detailed terrain images.

Meaning: Represents the ability of the radar to distinguish two adjacent targets in angle. Angular resolution is related to the beam width of the antenna and the working wavelength of the radar. A shorter wavelength and a narrow beam width can improve angular resolution. For example, in air defense radars, high angular resolution can more accurately determine the azimuth of enemy aircraft for effective air defense operations. In satellite communications, radars with high angular resolution can more accurately align with satellites and improve communication quality.

Meaning: Refers to the ability of the radar to distinguish targets with different velocities. Velocity resolution depends on the frequency of the radar transmission signal and the signal processing method. Higher frequencies and more advanced signal processing technologies can improve velocity resolution. For example, in traffic monitoring radars, high velocity resolution can accurately measure the speed of vehicles and distinguish vehicles with different speeds, providing a basis for traffic management.

Detection range is the maximum distance at which the radar can detect a target.

Meaning: The detection range is affected by many factors, including transmitted power, antenna gain, operating frequency, target reflection characteristics, and environmental factors. For different application scenarios, the required detection range is different. For example, in long-range early warning radars, a detection range of several thousand kilometers is needed to detect incoming enemy aircraft or missiles as early as possible. In automotive collision avoidance radars, the detection range is usually between tens and hundreds of meters to meet the safety needs of vehicle driving.

Meaning: Represents the accuracy of the radar in measuring the distance of the target. Usually measured by the error between the measured value and the actual value. High-precision distance measurement is very important for applications such as target positioning, tracking, and navigation. For example, in aviation navigation, the distance measurement accuracy of the radar directly affects the flight safety and navigation accuracy of the aircraft.

Meaning: Refers to the accuracy of the radar in measuring the angle (azimuth and elevation) of the target. Angle measurement accuracy depends on the antenna performance, signal processing algorithm, and measurement environment of the radar. In military and civilian fields, high angle measurement accuracy can more accurately determine the position and direction of the target, providing reliable information for combat command, target tracking, and navigation.

Meaning: Represents the accuracy of the radar in measuring the velocity of the target. Velocity measurement accuracy is affected by factors such as radar signal processing technology, target motion characteristics, and environmental interference. In fields such as traffic management, meteorological monitoring, and aerospace, accurate velocity measurement is crucial for ensuring safety and improving efficiency. For example, in weather radars, accurately measuring the velocity of raindrops can infer the wind direction and speed and provide important data for weather forecasting.

Data rate refers to the amount of data that the radar can process and output per unit time.

Meaning: A radar with a high data rate can update target information more quickly and track the dynamic changes of the target in real time. The data rate depends on factors such as the signal processing capability, sampling frequency, and transmission bandwidth of the radar. For example, in air defense radar systems, a high data rate can provide information such as the position, speed, and heading of enemy aircraft in time so that air defense weapon systems can respond quickly. In target tracking radars, a high data rate can more accurately depict the movement trajectory of the target and improve tracking accuracy.

Reliability refers to the ability of the radar to complete the specified functions within the specified conditions and time.

Meaning: Reliability is usually measured by indicators such as mean time between failures (MTBF). A highly reliable radar can work stably in various harsh environments, reduce the probability of failure, and reduce maintenance costs. For fields such as military, aerospace, and important civil facilities, the reliability of the radar is crucial. For example, in satellite navigation systems, ground radar stations need to have high reliability to ensure the accurate tracking of satellites and the stable transmission of navigation signals.

Anti-jamming ability refers to the ability of the radar to resist the influence of various interference factors and work normally in a complex electromagnetic environment.

Meaning: In the modern electronic warfare environment, radars face intentional interference from the enemy (such as electronic jamming, deception jamming, etc.) and unintentional interference in the natural environment (such as clutter, noise, etc.). Radars with strong anti-jamming ability can effectively suppress interference and improve detection performance in complex environments by adopting advanced signal processing technologies, frequency agility, polarization diversity, and other means. For example, in military confrontations, radars with strong anti-jamming ability can still accurately detect and track targets under enemy electronic jamming to ensure the completion of combat tasks.