History of Radar in Timeline

Radar is a radiodetermination system using radio waves to detect and track objects. It determines the distance, direction, and radial velocity of targets relative to its location. Radar applications are diverse, including tracking aircraft, ships, spacecraft, missiles, and vehicles, as well as mapping weather and terrain.

April 1904: Hülsmeyer obtains patent for detection device

In April 1904, Christian Hülsmeyer obtained a patent for his device to detect "the presence of distant metallic objects".

September 1904: Hülsmeyer obtains British patent for full radar system

On September 23, 1904, Christian Hülsmeyer obtained a British patent for a full radar system, called a telemobiloscope, operating on a 50 cm wavelength with a spark-gap pulsed radar signal.

1915: Watson-Watt uses radio technology to warn of thunderstorms

In 1915, Robert Watson-Watt used radio technology to provide advance warning of thunderstorms to airmen.

1922: Taylor and Young discover signal fading due to ships

In 1922, U.S. Navy researchers A. Hoyt Taylor and Leo C. Young discovered that ships passing through the beam path caused the received signal to fade in and out while experimenting with a transmitter and receiver on opposite sides of the Potomac River.

1928: Alder takes out secret provisional patent for Naval radar

In 1928, L. S. Alder took out a secret provisional patent for Naval radar in the UK.

January 1931: First official record in Great Britain of technology used in coastal defence

In January 1931, a writeup on the apparatus developed by W.A.S. Butement and P. E. Pollard was entered in the Inventions Book maintained by the Royal Engineers. This is the first official record in Great Britain of the technology that was used in coastal defence and was incorporated into Chain Home as Chain Home (low).

December 1934: Page demonstrates first elementary pulsed radar apparatus

In December 1934, American Robert M. Page at the Naval Research Laboratory demonstrated the first elementary apparatus for pulsed radar.

1934: CSF begins developing obstacle-locating radio apparatus

In France in 1934, the research branch of the Compagnie générale de la télégraphie sans fil (CSF) began developing an obstacle-locating radio apparatus.

February 1935: Daventry Experiment successfully detects aircraft using radio interference

On 26 February 1935, the Daventry Experiment used a BBC shortwave transmitter and a GPO receiver to detect a bomber flying around the site, proving the potential of using radio interference to detect aircraft.

May 1935: Rudolf Kühnhold and GEMA demonstrate pulsed radar system

In May 1935, Rudolf Kühnhold and the firm GEMA in Germany demonstrated a pulsed radar system.

June 1935: Watson-Watt's team demonstrates pulsed radar system

In June 1935, an Air Ministry team led by Robert Watson-Watt in Great Britain demonstrated a pulsed radar system.

1935: Obstacle-locating radio apparatus installed on the ocean liner Normandie

In 1935, aspects of the obstacle-locating radio apparatus being developed by the CSF were installed on the ocean liner Normandie.

1935: Working radar systems produced and deployment begins

In 1935, the team produced working radar systems and began deployment.

September 1936: Watson-Watt becomes superintendent of Bawdsey Research Station

On 1 September 1936, Watson-Watt became superintendent of the new Bawdsey Research Station under the British Air Ministry.

1936: First five Chain Home systems are operational

By 1936, the first five Chain Home (CH) systems were operational.

1938: First commercial radar device fitted to aircraft by Bell Lab

In 1938, Bell Lab fitted some United Air Lines aircraft with the first commercial radar device.

1939: Chain Home becomes operational

By 1939, the "Chain Home" system of aircraft detection and tracking stations along the East and South coasts of England was operational, providing vital information during World War II.

1939: Soviets produce first mass production radars RUS-1 and RUS-2 Redut

In 1939, the Soviets produced their first mass production radars, the RUS-1 and RUS-2 Redut.

April 1940: Popular Science shows example of radar unit using the Watson-Watt patent

In April 1940, Popular Science showed an example of a radar unit using the Watson-Watt patent in an article on air defence.

1940: Chain Home stretches across the entire UK including Northern Ireland

By 1940, the Chain Home (CH) systems stretched across the entire UK including Northern Ireland.

1940: Britain shares cavity magnetron technology with the U.S.

In 1940, Britain shared the cavity magnetron technology with the U.S. during the Tizard Mission.

1940: RADAR acronym coined by United States Navy

In 1940, the United States Navy coined the term RADAR as an acronym for "radio detection and ranging". Since then, the term has become a common noun in English and other languages.

1941: Watson-Watt advises on air defense after Pearl Harbor

In 1941, Watson-Watt was sent to the U.S. to advise on air defense after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

June 1943: First Russian airborne radar Gneiss-2 entered into service

In June 1943, the first Russian airborne radar, Gneiss-2, entered into service on Pe-2 dive bombers.

1943: Page improves radar with the monopulse technique

In 1943, Page greatly improved radar with the monopulse technique.

1944: More than 230 Gneiss-2 stations produced by the end of 1944

More than 230 Gneiss-2 airborne radar stations were produced in Russia by the end of 1944.

1978: Loss of a U.S. Navy aircraft attributed to a silicate ester fire

In 1978, the loss of a U.S. Navy aircraft was attributed to a silicate ester (Coolanol) fire.

2017: NOAA plans to implement a national network of multi-function phased array radars

As of 2017, NOAA planned to implement a national network of multi-function phased array radars throughout the United States within 10 years, for meteorological studies and flight monitoring.