Radar Bands
Most of the radars operate in UHF as well as microwave frequency bands. Now-a-days radars even use millimeter bands.
Following table-1 mentiona in general radar bands and peak power transmitted in each of these bands.
radar bands |
Frequency range (GHz) |
Maximum Peak Power (MWatt) |
---|---|---|
UHF | 0.3 to 1.0 | 5.0 |
L | 1.0 to 1.5 | 30.0 |
S | 1.5 to 3.9 | 25.0 |
C | 3.9 to 8.0 | 15.0 |
X | 8.0 to 12.5 | 10.0 |
Ku | 12.5 to 18.0 | 2.0 |
K | 18.0 to 26.5 | 0.6 |
Ka | 26.5 to 40.0 | 0.25 |
Following table-2 mentions all the Radar bands with their respective frequency range, wavelength and applications.
Radar Band |
Frequency Range |
Wavelength | Applications |
---|---|---|---|
HF | 3 to 30 MHz |
10 m to 100 m |
Coastal radar systems, OTH radar |
P | 30 to 300 MHz |
1m to 10m |
applied retrospectively to early radar |
UHF | 300 to 1000MHz |
0.3 to 1 m |
very long range, ground penetrating radar |
L | 1 to 2 GHz |
15 cm to 30 cm |
Long range air traffic control and surveillance |
S | 2 to 4 GHz |
7.5 cm to 15 cm |
Terminal air traffic control, long range weather or marine radar |
C | 4 to 8 GHz |
3.75 cm to 7.5 cm |
satellite transponders, weather radar |
X | 8 to 12 GHz |
2.5 cm to 3.75 cm |
missile guidance, marine and weather radar, ground surveillance |
Ku | 12 to 18 GHz |
1.67 cm to 2.5 cm |
High resolution mapping, satellite altimetry |
K | 18 to 27 GHz |
1.11 to 1.67 cm |
Used by meteorologists to detect clouds, used by police to detect motorists with high speed. |
Ka | 27 to 40 GHz |
0.75 cm to 1.11 cm |
Mapping, short range, airport surveillance |
mm | 40 to 300 GHz |
1 mm to 7.5 mm |
This millimeter band is used for various radar applications |
Q | 40 to 60 GHz |
5 mm to 7.5 mm |
Used for military communications |
V | 50 to 75 GHz |
4 mm to 6 mm |
Very strongly absorbed by atmosphere |
W | 75 to 110 GHz |
2.7 mm to 4 mm |
76GHz LRR,79GHz SRR automotive radar, high resolution meteorological observation, imaging |
RADAR RELATED LINKS
RADAR tutorial
Doppler Radar
FMCW RADAR
RADAR BANDs
RADAR SCOPE
Weather Radar
Ground Penetrating Radar System
RADAR RANGE and RESOLUTION
Radar calculators
Following are useful radar calculators to calculate radar range, radar PRF, radar resolution etc.
Radar Range calculator
Radar PRF vs Range
Radar Range Resolution
Radar Calculators
Radar Range calculator
Radar PRF vs Range
Radar Range Resolution