Which basis does a pulse radar system use for detecting and tracking targets?

Which basis does a pulse radar system use for detecting and tracking targets?

• A. Velocity basis
• B. Range basis
• C. Time basis
• D. Angle basis

Answer: (B)

Pulse radar detects and tracks targets by measuring range—the distance to the target. When a short pulse is sent, the radar records how long it takes for the echo to return. Since the speed of light is constant, that round-trip time directly yields how far away the target is. This range information is what enables detection (identifying returns in a range gate) and tracking (updating the target’s position over successive pulses). Doppler shifts can reveal radial velocity, but the primary basis for detecting and tracking is range. Time in itself isn’t the basis, and angle alone doesn’t give distance, so range is the correct foundation for how pulse radars locate and follow targets.

Pulse radar detects and tracks targets by measuring range—the distance to the target. When a short pulse is sent, the radar records how long it takes for the echo to return. Since the speed of light is constant, that round-trip time directly yields how far away the target is. This range information is what enables detection (identifying returns in a range gate) and tracking (updating the target’s position over successive pulses). Doppler shifts can reveal radial velocity, but the primary basis for detecting and tracking is range. Time in itself isn’t the basis, and angle alone doesn’t give distance, so range is the correct foundation for how pulse radars locate and follow targets.