If a target's bearing changes while its range remains constant, what is most likely happening?

Prepare for the Radar Observer Unlimited Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions that include hints and explanations. Equip yourself for examination success!

Bearing and range are two coordinates used to locate a target relative to you. If a target is truly stationary, both the bearing and the range should stay constant. Seeing only the bearing change while the range remains essentially the same points to an issue with the measurement system, not a real movement of the target. The most plausible explanation is that the radar’s bearing indication is miscalibrated or misaligned, causing the azimuth reading to drift while the distance readout stays accurate. A moving target would typically cause changes in range as well, and a landmass wouldn’t produce a drifting bearing in the same steady way. Thus, bearing drift with constant range indicates radar mis-calibration.