OVERVIEW: Air traffic control (ATC) radars are ground-based 2D or 3D surveillance systems used for tracking aircraft in civilian and military airspace, ensuring safe and orderly air traffic management operations.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Air traffic control radars provide long-range aircraft detection and positional tracking to support en route navigation, approach control, and terminal area management. They operate primarily in the L-Band or S-Band, using rotating antennas to scan surrounding airspace and update aircraft positions in near real time. Systems may include primary surveillance radar (PSR), which passively detects aircraft by radar reflection, and secondary surveillance radar (SSR), which uses transponders to actively exchange data (IFF, altitude, ID). These radars are essential to both civilian air navigation services and military airbase operations, including integrated air defense and early warning networks.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Category: Air traffic management / surveillance radar
Primary Use: Detection and tracking of civilian and military aircraft in controlled airspace
Function: Real-time airspace monitoring for flight safety and traffic separation
Platform: Ground-fixed installations (civil ATC centers, airbases, forward-deployed radar sites)
Export: Used globally by civil aviation authorities and military air commands
Integration: Interfaced with secondary surveillance radar (SSR), IFF, and air operations centers
Type: 2D or 3D rotating surveillance radar

See Specific information under [Sensors/EW] section.

SOURCE:
FAA ATC Radar Modernization Briefings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_traffic_control_radar