What is the role of height-finder radars in air defense tracking?

• A. Provide azimuth only.
• B. Provide altitude data to produce accurate 3D target tracks for intercept planning.
• C. Detect weather patterns.
• D. Compute target speed from Doppler only.

Answer: (B)

Height-finder radars are used to pin down the altitude of a target, adding the vertical dimension to the tracking data. In air defense, you need a complete 3D picture—range, azimuth, and height—to know exactly where a target is in space and how its position will change over time. By providing altitude information, a height-finder lets you form accurate 3D tracks when combined with data from other radars, which is essential for planning intercepts.

This is what sets them apart from systems that only give direction or that focus on weather detection. An azimuth-only view lacks height, making it difficult to predict the target’s trajectory in three dimensions. Weather radars are designed for meteorological purposes, not tracking missile targets. While Doppler data can inform speed, the primary role of a height-finder is to supply altitude, enabling precise intercept geometry when integrated with other tracking data.