Where are radar sensors located?

Radar sensors are located almost everywhere they're needed: on aircraft and at airports, on weather stations, inside cars, on ships, and in space-based platforms.

Radar deployments are dictated by purpose, coverage needs, and environmental realities. Ground-based systems sit where they can monitor wide swaths of air, sea, or weather, while mobile and vehicle-mounted radars travel with or near the objects they observe. This article surveys the most common locations across civilian and military sectors and explains why placement varies by mission.

Air traffic control and aviation radars

In aviation, radar coverage hinges on fixed ground installations and strategically positioned towers or domes to ensure reliable, continuous tracking of aircraft within controlled airspace.

Typical locations for aviation radars include:

• Ground-based primary radar antennas mounted on tall towers or hilltops near airports to detect aircraft by reflected radio waves.


• Secondary surveillance radar (SSR) antennas atop tall structures at or near control facilities to read transponders from aircraft.


• Long-range surveillance radars placed at elevated sites around airspace boundaries to extend coverage beyond the airport perimeter.


• Radar domes at major hubs housing the equipment that scans and processes air traffic data.

These placements ensure broad and reliable coverage of airspace, enabling safe sequencing, separation, and routing of flights in busy skies.

Key considerations for aviation radar placement

Elevation, line-of-sight, and interference management are critical. Operators balance ground clutter, weather effects, and the need for redundancy to maintain continuous situational awareness for air traffic controllers and pilots alike.

Weather radar installations

Weather radars are fixed infrastructure designed to scan atmospheric volumes, track precipitation, and identify severe storm development. Location choices maximize visibility while minimizing ground clutter and obstructions.

Locations and configurations often include:

• Hilltops, ridges, or tall towers that provide broad elevation angles and longer-range detection.


• Dedicated meteorological facilities with radomes housing large Doppler radar antennas.


• Coastal and inland radar sites to cover regional weather patterns and storm movement.


• Mobile Doppler radar units used for field campaigns, research, or emergency response when fixed sites are unavailable.

In practice, weather radars are placed where they can “see” large volumes of air with minimal interference, enabling timely warnings and accurate forecasting.

Automotive radar sensors

In modern vehicles, radar sensors are integrated to enable adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and blind-spot monitoring. Their placement is a balance of performance, safety, and vehicle design.

Common placements include:

• Front bumper center modules (often at 77 GHz) used for adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.


• Grille or bumper-mounted units near the edges of the vehicle to extend forward sensing and cover adjacent lanes.


• Rear bumper modules for rear-cross-traffic alert and parking assist systems.


• Side-mounted sensors integrated into fenders or door mirrors in some designs to enhance blind-spot monitoring.

These placements optimize line-of-sight while protecting sensors from debris and weather, and they maintain a clean aesthetic for the vehicle.

Maritime radar sensors

Ships and coastal facilities rely on radar to navigate safely, monitor traffic, and observe weather conditions at sea. Placement emphasizes broad visibility and rugged operation in harsh marine environments.

Typical maritime radar placements include:

• Bridge-mounted rotating antennas housed in radomes atop the bridge or a mast, providing 360-degree situational awareness of nearby vessels and obstacles.


• Mast-mounted or superstructure antennas on larger ships to optimize radar elevation and scan coverage.


• Coastal surveillance radar towers along harbors and waterways to monitor shipping lanes and approaching traffic.


• Offshore platform radars on oil or gas installations, used for navigation and safety in offshore environments.

Placement decisions account for sea state, hull design, and the need to minimize interference from the vessel itself while ensuring robust performance in all weather conditions.

Military and space radars

Defense and space programs deploy radar sensors across a range of platforms and environments, from fixed national security installations to airborne and spaceborne assets.

Common locations and platforms include:

• Ground-based radar stations and towers for early warning, air defense, and surveillance missions.


• Naval radars mounted on ships’ masts or superstructures to provide long-range target detection and navigation support.


• Aircraft-mounted radars integrated into fuselages or nose sections for reconnaissance, targeting, and strike planning.


• Space-based radar systems aboard satellites for imaging, surveillance, and missile tracking from orbit.

These locations reflect a mix of fixed, mobile, and space-based sensors designed to provide persistent, global or theater-wide awareness and response capabilities.

Coordination and safety implications

Across all sectors, radar placement is part of a broader strategy that includes spectrum management, electromagnetic compatibility, and critical safety considerations. Regular maintenance, weather-proofing, and cybersecurity protections are essential to keep these systems reliable.

Summary

Radar sensors are located wherever monitoring and safety demands require them: airports and control towers for aviation; hilltops and radomes for weather monitoring; bumpers and grilles on cars; bridges and masts on ships; and fixed, mobile, or space-based platforms for defense and space operations. Placement choices optimize visibility, coverage, and resilience against environmental factors, while balancing safety, maintenance, and integration with other systems. Together, these locations form a global network that informs navigation, weather forecasting, automotive safety, and national security.

Where should a radar detector be placed?

The best place to mount a radar detector is high on the windshield, near the rearview mirror, for optimal performance and reduced visibility. For an even cleaner look, consider using a mount that attaches to the rearview mirror stem. For stealthier, custom installations, some drivers mount the detector in the vehicle's grille or behind a plastic bumper.
 
This video shows how to mount a radar detector high on the windshield: 1mVortex RadarYouTube · Apr 24, 2015
Windshield mounting

• High placement: Mounting higher on the windshield provides better long-range radar detection by offering a clearer view over hills and other vehicles. 
• Center of the windshield: Mount it in the center to ensure equal coverage, but make sure it doesn't block your line of sight or the view of sun visors or tint strips. 
• Lower placement: A lower position can improve laser detection because it is closer to headlights and the grille, where laser is aimed. However, it may be easier for the detector to be blocked by other vehicles or the car's own wipers. 
• Visor mount: This is a discreet option, but it can make the detector more visible to law enforcement if you have documents stored in the visor. 

Rearview mirror mounting 

• Mirror stem mounts: Use a specialized mount to attach the detector to the stem of your rearview mirror for a solid, clean installation without blocking the windshield. 
• BlendMount: This is a popular option that uses an adjustable clamp to attach to the mirror stem, offering a secure and adjustable solution. 
• Hardwiring: This can be combined with a mirror mount for a virtually cable-free install by wiring directly into the mirror's power source. 

Custom and hidden installations

• Behind the grille: A good option for stealth, but be aware of potential signal interference from mesh grills. It's best to mount it behind a flat plastic section of the grille. 
• Behind the bumper: Mounting behind a flat plastic bumper panel is another effective method for a hidden install, especially for rear antennas. 
• Avoid certain materials: Do not mount antennas behind metal, metallic paint, or angled surfaces, as these will significantly impede radar signals. 

This video shows how to install a custom-installed radar detector: 59sVortex RadarYouTube · Jul 19, 2021

How to clean radar sensors?

The camera mounted sensor. The camera is located on the windshield. Behind the rear view mirror. It is often referred to as the front radar.

How do cops know if you have a radar detector?

Police can know you have a radar detector by using a radar detector detector (RDD), a device that detects the specific radio frequencies emitted by the detector itself. Older radar detectors are more easily detected, but many modern devices have "stealth" technology to remain undetectable. 
This video explains how radar detector detectors work: 54sCounty Office LawYouTube · Mar 4, 2025
How Radar Detector Detectors (RDDs) work 

• Detecting radio emissions: When a radar detector is scanning, it unintentionally emits a small amount of radio frequency energy from its own components. RDDs are designed to pick up these specific frequencies. 
• Identifying the source: Once an RDD detects this signal, it alerts the officer that a radar detector is likely in use in a nearby vehicle. 
• Examples of RDDs: Devices like the Spectre Elite and VG-2 are examples of RDDs used by law enforcement. 

Factors affecting detection

• Radar detector technology: The age and quality of the radar detector play a large role. Modern, high-end models are often built with stealth technology to be undetectable by RDDs. 
• RDD technology: The type of RDD being used by the police also affects its effectiveness. 
• Environmental factors: Things like distance, surrounding terrain, and traffic can influence the detection process. 

This video explains how police detect radar detectors using LIDAR: 51sJust.that.officerYouTube · Jun 26, 2020
Other ways police may know

• Visual identification: An officer can simply see the radar detector in your car, especially when your headlights are on at night. 
• Driving behavior: You may draw attention to yourself by braking erratically when a radar detector goes off, which can make you a target for a stop even if your detector is undetectable. 
• "Instant-on" radar: Police can use their radar gun in a mode that only transmits a signal when they are actively targeting a specific car, making it harder for the detector to pick up the signal before being hit. 

This video explains what radar detector detectors are: 1mVortex RadarYouTube · Mar 24, 2017

Where are the radar sensors located?

So again pay careful. Attention make sure that you're inspecting them very carefully. And in the end make sure the proper calibration.