harishkumar09
New Member
Hi Guys, we all know that any ship board system will have three radar types performing three different functions. We have a search radar (usually low frequency), a tracking radar (of much higher frequency) and an illuminator/target painting radar to enable the missile to home in on the target. Usually the number of illuminating radars decide the number of targets that can be simultaneously engaged.
While I can understand the purpose of a tracking radar (which provides better resolution), I can't understand the rationale for a illuminator.
At least while engaging far-off targets, most targets (aircraft) would be within the cone of the tracking radar. If it is a stationary mechanical radar, it will continuously receive reflected energy from the attacking aircraft and using coordinates thus obtained can plot a trajectory using the computer. Once SAMs are launched the energy is going to be reflected from the SAMs as well so the tracking radar now has coordinates of both outbound missiles and inbound targets. It can now easily send guidance commands by radio to the missiles and put them on a collision course towards the target. Why do we need the illuminating radars to paint the target?
Again if we can have four mechanical tracking radars facing the four quadrants (as in the ship-mounted Phased Arrays such as SPY-1), we should be able to simultaneously engage several targets.
Why do we need the illuminating radars which place a limit on the number of targets engaged?
Can't the tracking radar guide all missiles in its cone, to all the targets within the cone till collision?
While I can understand the purpose of a tracking radar (which provides better resolution), I can't understand the rationale for a illuminator.
At least while engaging far-off targets, most targets (aircraft) would be within the cone of the tracking radar. If it is a stationary mechanical radar, it will continuously receive reflected energy from the attacking aircraft and using coordinates thus obtained can plot a trajectory using the computer. Once SAMs are launched the energy is going to be reflected from the SAMs as well so the tracking radar now has coordinates of both outbound missiles and inbound targets. It can now easily send guidance commands by radio to the missiles and put them on a collision course towards the target. Why do we need the illuminating radars to paint the target?
Again if we can have four mechanical tracking radars facing the four quadrants (as in the ship-mounted Phased Arrays such as SPY-1), we should be able to simultaneously engage several targets.
Why do we need the illuminating radars which place a limit on the number of targets engaged?
Can't the tracking radar guide all missiles in its cone, to all the targets within the cone till collision?
