OVERVIEW: Navigation Radars are short-to-medium range 2D surface-search systems used to aid in safe maritime navigation and collision avoidance. They operate in I or E-band and are commonly installed on military, commercial, and civilian vessels.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Navigation radars provide situational awareness by detecting coastlines, other vessels, obstacles, and buoys under various weather and sea conditions. These radars typically use mechanically rotating antennas and coherent pulse-Doppler processing to detect and track targets. While optimized for surface navigation, they also offer basic weather mapping and limited air detection. Their reliability, simplicity, and all-weather capability make them essential on all classes of maritime platforms.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Category: Maritime Navigation
Primary Use: Surface navigation and collision avoidance
Function: 2D surface search and mapping
Platform: Installed on nearly all naval and civilian vessels
Integration: Can feed data to bridge displays, ECDIS, and integrated bridge systems

See Specific information under [Sensors/EW] and [Properties] sections.

SOURCE:
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov
https://www.marineinsight.com