Radar Horizon Calculator

Your details

Height of the radar antenna above local ground or sea surface. For a ship, measure from sea level to the antenna; for a ground station, use the antenna height above terrain.
m
Height of the target above local ground or sea surface. Use 0 for a ship at sea level or a ground-level target. Enter a positive value for aircraft or elevated targets.
m
The k-factor (effective Earth radius multiplier) accounts for how the atmosphere bends radio waves downward. Standard k = 4/3 is used in most radar planning. Superrefraction occurs in ducting conditions; subrefraction in strong temperature inversions.
Radar horizon (antenna)Medium range
12.19

Max range at which the radar can illuminate the sea or ground surface

Target horizon (target)0
Maximum detection range12.19
Geometric horizon (no refraction)10.56
Refraction gain1.63
Distance unitnm
Geometric horizon10.56
Radar horizon (refracted)12.19
Max detection range12.19

Maximum detection range: 12.19 nm

  • The radar antenna can illuminate targets up to 12.19 nm away at sea or ground level.
  • Standard atmospheric refraction (k = 4/3) adds 1.63 nm of radar range over the purely geometric horizon - roughly a 15% improvement.

Next stepRemember that the radar horizon is the geometric detection limit. Actual detection range also depends on radar transmit power, target radar cross-section (RCS), sea clutter, and sensitivity settings.

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