As of 2017, two additional localizers have received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance: a
radar reflector that uses microimpulse radar (SAVI SCOUT, Cianna Medical Inc, Aliso Viejo, California) and a magnetic seed (Magseed, Endomagnetics Inc, Austin, Texas).
According to their manufacturers, corner deflectors decoys offer several advantages including launch procedures that are independent from ship manoeuvres, consistent
radar reflector performance and extended endurance on the sea surface, insensitivity to the polarisation of the missile's radar, a ship like radar-cross section that varies in a similar matter to a ship, multi-band performance extending into the millimetric wave region and the resistance to the chaff discriminators used by modern RF seekers.
But during daylight, Jim stuck a bucket over the mast to act as a
radar reflector. This meant the single all-round white light on the mast was obscured, which should not have been the case in restricted visibility.
They can see you on radar, of course, but again that requires somebody to be watching the radar, and also requires your boat to be of adequate size and construction that it shows up as a target; many small fiberglass boats do not without adding a
radar reflector. Add the AIS and they are unlikely to miss you, and if they're bearing directly down on you, their perimeter alarm, a part of the AIS program, will alert them to sound a warning.
The life ball, when activated, inflates an orange plastic ball with a
radar reflector inside.
Deployment of the
radar reflector and feed system also is depicted in Figure 9.
In June, the (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article213776794.html) Charlotte Observer reported a similar mystery object - made of metal - washed ashore at Corolla. Guesses at the time ranged from an "experimental
radar reflector" to a "Russian Radioisotope Thermal Generator used to power remote light houses." Others believed it was just part of a mooring buoy.
[] Climb the mast and check the masthead antennae, standing rigging attachments, swages, spreaders,
radar reflector, Windex and the mast itself.
The
radar reflector creates a false image similar to that of the ship from which the Replica was launched by bouncing radar signals back to their source.
Carlsson, et al., "Search
Radar Reflector Antennas with Extremely Low Sidelobes," Proceedings on Military Microwaves, London.
When one of those balloons with its disc microphones and
radar reflectors landed in a farm in Roswell, New Mexico it helped fuel the whole alien craze we're still living with today," he said.