Which scan type tracks targets while it scans them?

Which scan type tracks targets while it scans them?

• A. Raster
• B. Unidirectional
• C. TWS
• D. Circular

Answer: (C)

Track-while-scan is the ability to maintain and update target tracks while the radar continues to scan the airspace. In this mode, the radar processor continuously links new detections to existing tracks or starts new ones, updating each target’s range, bearing, and velocity in real time as the antenna sweeps. This lets the system watch multiple targets simultaneously without pausing the scan, providing ongoing tracking information even while still performing search. The other scan patterns are primarily about how the radar covers the area: a raster pattern sweeps a grid for broad coverage, a unidirectional sweep goes in one direction, and a circular scan rotates around for wide-area search. None of these inherently emphasize maintaining target tracks while scanning the scene, which is why Track-While-Scan is the correct concept here.

Track-while-scan is the ability to maintain and update target tracks while the radar continues to scan the airspace. In this mode, the radar processor continuously links new detections to existing tracks or starts new ones, updating each target’s range, bearing, and velocity in real time as the antenna sweeps. This lets the system watch multiple targets simultaneously without pausing the scan, providing ongoing tracking information even while still performing search. The other scan patterns are primarily about how the radar covers the area: a raster pattern sweeps a grid for broad coverage, a unidirectional sweep goes in one direction, and a circular scan rotates around for wide-area search. None of these inherently emphasize maintaining target tracks while scanning the scene, which is why Track-While-Scan is the correct concept here.