radar horizon

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Related to radar horizon: Over the horizon radar

radar horizon

The locus of points at which the rays from a radar antenna become tangential to the Earth's surface. On the open sea this locus is horizontal, but on land it varies according to the topographical features of the terrain.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

References in periodicals archive ?

Using plasma has the potential to significantly increase the radar horizon of sensing and communication systems.

Laser and plasma research gets boost at SSC Pacific

Measuring 35 metres long, it can lift a 500kg payload to its 5,000-ft operating altitude, extending the radar horizon to 160-km.

A blimp's point of view

Land-based radar cannot detect helicopters further than about 110km because the aircraft operate at low level, below the radar horizon. Sep 7, 2009