Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Rubin Tan | Cpl. Chad Benjamin, a CASS technician for MALS-31, tests a power converter in a radar...... read more read more
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BEAUFORT, S.C. - In today’s age, radar, or radio detection and ranging, is used to predict the weather, control air traffic, catch speeding violators, and, on the air station, as a tool to help complete a mission.
The many different avionic systems found in aircraft, such as communication, navigation, monitoring and radar, are very important when it comes to mission accomplishment.
In order to better see the enemy, the F/A-18 Hornet is equipped with a multi-waveform radar that can seek and track targets on the ground and in the air.
“When it comes to mission accomplishment, it is essential to have radar [systems] because you have to know where your friends and enemies are at all times,” said Sgt. Adam Johnson, a VMFA-115 communication navigation technician. “Radar is mostly about guidance.”
For example, if you are on a mission dealing with enemy ground or bunker hazards, radar has the ability to detect the location of enemies and send a notification to keep the pilot cognizant of his surroundings.
“The radar system in the F/A-18 makes it possible for pilots to ensure a clear flight path while in the air,” said Capt. Taylor Shenkman, a pilot with VMFA-115.
Other than the ability to seek and track, it also has the ability to paint an image of what may be on the ground to further assist aircraft pilots.
“In the event in which a missile is fired at the aircraft, radar has the capability to track the threat and activate counter measures to help protect the pilot and his aircraft,” said Sgt. Corey Burton, a day crew supervisor with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31.
The radar in the Hornet also has the ability to lock onto targets using the heads-up display to inform the pilot of incoming aircraft. With the radar ability to lock onto targets, the missiles are able to have a guided flight path preset by the radar.
“The radar equipped in the aircraft is a great tool, which gives us an advantage against threats we may face while flying,” Shenkman added.
In the last 20 years radar advancements have equipped today’s radar with faster processors to create higher resolution images of the ground and increased accuracy for a missile’s flight path giving the Hornet a true eagle’s eye.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.14.2011 10:46 |
| Story ID: | 73719 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 114 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Radar gives Hornets eagle-like eyesight, by GySgt Rubin Tan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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