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Chris Smith
English 101
Sec 5512
Instructor: Wendy Henry
24 January 2006
Division and Classification Paper

Ground Radar Systems in the U.S. Air Force

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Throughout the history of aviation, ground radar systems have been an integral part of flight

operations. They have been used for a variety of reasons, from greatly improving flight safety to

detecting hostile aircraft in military operations. In the United States Air Force, there are several

different types of ground-based radar systems used, all designed differently depending on the

purpose of their mission. Effective maintenance of these systems is vitally important in ensuring

the success of the flying mission. For the ground radar systems maintenance career field in the

U.S. Air Force, there are three primary types of radar systems maintained by military personnel:

air traffic control systems, aircraft control and warning systems, and automatic tracking radar

systems.

Air traffic control radar systems are used to direct aircraft safely within a specified airspace,

such as an airport or military air base, and also utilize several types of radar systems to

accomplish this task. Search radar systems are used to monitor airspace in all directions. They

are normally shorter-range radar systems, typically with a 60 nautical mile range. These radars

sacrifice long-range capability in order to greatly improve aircraft target accuracy, especially

important when ensuring the safety of flight passengers and protecting multi-million dollar

pieces of equipment. Precision approach radar systems are used to safely guide aircraft in for

landings. These systems do not scan in all directions, but rather in a very small area typically

near a runway approach. Approach radars have even smaller ranges than search systems, only

reaching 20 nautical miles normally.

Aircraft control and warning radar systems are considered to be the “combat radar” systems

of the U.S. Air Force. They are highly mobile equipment used in a tactical military environment

near hostile fire zones throughout the world. These systems are used by air operations
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commanders to direct air battle missions and to detect hostile aircraft or munitions, such as

missiles, within their range capabilities. Aircraft warning systems function similar to search

radar systems used in air traffic control, but have a much greater range. They can detect aircraft

targets up to 240 nautical miles away, but due to the long range, these radars do not possess the

target accuracy of search systems. The aircraft warning radar systems also possess a number of

protection measures used to help protect the system and continue the mission in the event of

jamming or other forms of electronic combat used against the radar system.

Automatic tracking radar systems are used by the Air Force primarily as training systems to

train pilots and aircrews in operating in a hostile environment. These radar systems are

“emulators”, used to reproduce radar signatures from enemy weapons systems, such as surface-

to-air missile batteries or anti-aircraft artillery systems. These radars are used to lock onto

aircraft under test, who must then try to counter or neutralize these radar signals being used to

target them. The training operations using the tracking radar systems are normally performed at

isolated ranges within the United States and other countries. Automatic tracking systems are a

vital part of Air Force training operations, as they have directly contributed to much higher rates

of survivability in combat situations for military pilots and aircrews.

Air traffic control systems, aircraft control and warning systems, and automatic tracking radar

systems are the three primary types of ground radar systems used and maintained by the United

States Air Force. Air traffic systems are used in controlling aircraft flight patterns within a given

airspace. Aircraft control and warning systems are used in detecting hostile aircraft and

monitoring friendly aircraft in combat zones. Automatic tracking radar systems are used in

training military flyers how to effectively respond in combat situations. Without these critical

systems, the Air Force could not adequately perform its mission in the defense of this nation.