Low Frequency Radar Bands
Lower frequencies for long-range surveillance:
Lower environmental losses
Lower cost (fewer elements to make a large antenna)
Power amplifiers are more powerful and efficient at lower frequencies
VHF
[30 - 300 MHz]
Early US,
1938-1941
L-Band
[1 - 2 GHz]
Long Range
Surveillance
HF
[3 - 30 MHz]
Over the horizon radar,
1st operational radars
TPS-77 & TPY-4
APY-9
OTHR
< 2 GHz
UHF
[300 MHz - 1 GHz]
Long Range
Surveillance
HF
[3 - 30 MHz]
Over the horizon radar, 1st operational radars
HF
[3 - 30 MHz]
Over the horizon radar, 1st operational radars
HF
[3 - 30 MHz]
Over the horizon radar, 1st operational radars
S and C Band are good “compromise frequencies” for multi-mission applications
Mid Frequency Radar Bands
TPQ-53
SPY-1
LRDR
S-Band
[2 - 4 GHz]
Air & Missile
Defense; Weather
S and C Band are good “compromise frequencies” for
multi-mission applications
2 - 8 GHz
C-Band
[4 - 8 GHz]
Multifunction Air
Defense; Weather
Lower frequencies for long-range surveillance:
Lower environmental losses
Lower cost (fewer elements to make a large antenna)
Power amplifiers are more powerful and efficient at lower frequencies
Low Frequency Radar Bands
HF
[3 - 30 MHz]
Over the horizon radar, 1st operational radars
S-Band
[2 - 4 GHz]
Air & Missile Defense; Weather
High Frequency Radar Bands
Higher frequencies for applications requiring high accuracy/resolution:
More operating bandwidth available at higher frequencies
Narrower beams providing better angle accuracy
Sentinel A4
8 - 40 GHz
Ka-Band
[18 - 40 GHz]
High Resolution
Mapping
X-Band
[8 - 12 GHz]
Long Range
Surveillance
Ku-Band
[12 - 18 GHz]
Navigation; Bomb-nav;
Terrain Following
8 - 40 GHz
Low Frequency Radar Bands
Lower frequencies for long-range surveillance:
Lower environmental losses
Lower cost (fewer elements to make a large antenna)
Power amplifiers are more powerful and efficient at lower frequencies
X-Band
[8 - 12 GHz]
Long Range Surveillance
Ku-Band
[12 - 18 GHz]
Navigation; Bomb-nav; Terrain Following
Ka-Band
[18 - 40 GHz]
High Resolution Mapping; Missile Seekers