OVERVIEW: The Kelvin Hughes Type 500A (KH 500A) is a legacy navigation and surface search radar widely fitted to small-to-medium naval and commercial vessels from the 1960s through the 1980s. It was designed to offer reliable, short-to-medium range detection of surface targets in coastal or congested waters.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The KH 500A is an X-band (I-Band) navigation radar using a magnetron transmitter and traditional analog display systems. It provides basic azimuth and range data on surface contacts and was valued for its simplicity, compact size, and robustness in harsh maritime environments. Though obsolete by modern standards, it was in widespread use on auxiliary vessels, small warships, and commercial ships for decades.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Category: Navigation and Surface Search Radar
Primary Use: Shipborne navigation and basic surface contact detection
Function: Surface detection, collision avoidance, navigation in coastal waters
Platform: Small naval vessels, auxiliaries, commercial ships

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

SOURCE:
Kelvin Hughes historical documentation
Lloyd’s Register maritime electronics archives