What is the primary function of a radar system in fire control?

The primary function of a radar system in fire control is to detect and track targets in the operational environment. Radar systems emit radio waves and analyze the reflected signals to identify object location, distance, speed, and direction. This capability is essential for situational awareness and target engagement in naval operations, as it enables fire control personnel to maintain accurate tracking of incoming threats or targets and ensure effective targeting for weapon systems.

While launching missiles is an important aspect of fire control, it is not the primary function of the radar system itself. Instead, the radar provides the necessary data to determine when and how to engage targets. Communication with other naval vessels is vital to naval operations but falls outside the core functions of radar. Additionally, while calculating ballistic trajectories is a critical step in engaging targets, this process often utilizes the data supplied by radar to inform the calculations rather than being the primary function of radar itself.