Bistatic radar

A bistatic radar is a radar whereby the transmitter and the receiver are in a different location.

Bistatic radar
Difference between a conventional (monostatic) radar and a bistatic radar.

Radars are conventionally operated as a monostatic radar with the transmitter and the receiver at the same location. In the case of a bistatic radar the transmitter and the receiver are in different locations. Usually, the seperation distance between the transmitter and the receiver are in the order of the expected distance to the target. A bistatic radar is especially useful in case where the energy reflected by the target is very low,e.g. in the case of longe range radar and weather radar. A bistatic radar is also useful for military to detect targets which use stealth technology, whereby the geometry of the target reflects very little or no energy in the direction of the monostatic radar.

A special form of a bistatic radar is a passive bistatic radar which makes use of existing transmitters, such as high power broadcasting transmissions, for detection purposes. A passive radar is especially of importance for the military, because the radar itself doesn´t transmit any energy and is therefore non-detectable.