History of radar

First practical use of radar

The first practical radar for use in the detection of airplanes was developed by the Scotsman Robert Alexander Watson Watt (1892 - 1973) of the British National Physical Laboratory. By t 1936, his installation at a secret military site at Bawetsey Manor on England 's east coast could detect airplanes at altitudes up to 1500 feet (460 meters) and at distances up to 75 miles (120 km). Perceiving the practical value of such a system for wartime use, the British government spent several million pounds to develop a workable system, and by the time World War II began in 1939, Watson Watt' s radar network could detect aircraft at 10,000 feet (3048 meters) and 100 miles (160 km) away.

Radar in battles

During the Battle of Britain in 1940, radar, still top secret, played a crucial role in saving Britain from defeat by the German air force. In Germany, Rudolf Kuhnold at Telefunken in Wurzburg had actually made major progress in radar in 1938, but further development had been halted because German leader Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945) believed that the field of electronics was too dominated by Jewish scientists. German radar research resumed in 1943, when the success of British radar became apparent, but by that time, British and American systems were much more highly refined.

Radar in use today

Today radar is an essential part of air traffic control at airports everywhere, and is installed in all commercial and military aircraft.