Radar systems track aircraft positions and manage air traffic by emitting electromagnetic pulses and analyzing the returned signals. Primary radar detects aircraft by the reflected signals, while secondary radar uses transponders for additional data, improving collision avoidance and flight management.

Radar is used in advanced driver-assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, to maintain safe distances from other vehicles. Collision avoidance systems employ radar to detect obstacles and initiate automatic braking or steering, improving road safety.

Doppler radar measures the velocity of precipitation particles to assess storm movement and wind patterns. Dual-polarization radar distinguishes between types of precipitation, enhancing weather forecasting accuracy and severe weather prediction.

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) creates high-resolution images by synthesizing data from multiple radar pulses. SAR is used to locate objects or people through obstacles like vegetation or debris, facilitating effective search and rescue missions.

Phased array radar provides rapid, electronic steering of radar beams to track multiple targets simultaneously, which is essential for missile defense and surveillance. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) detects buried objects and assesses underground structures, which are crucial for defense and mine detection.

Radar altimetry measures distances to surfaces, aiding in the study of topography and environmental changes. Atmospheric radar provides data on cloud formation and precipitation, contributing to climate research and weather modeling.