Latest news with #militaryradar
Gizmodo
13-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Aliens Can Detect Earth's Airports From 200 Light-Years Away
Humans might not know of any intelligent beings beyond Earth, but if they exist, they might already know about us. New research shows that radar systems at commercial and military airports are inadvertently announcing our presence to any aliens with the ability to listen. Preliminary results from a study led by Ramiro Caisse Saide, an astrophysics PhD candidate at the University of Manchester, suggest extraterrestrials up to 200 light-years away could theoretically detect electromagnetic signals leaking from global airline hubs such as John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Heathrow Airport in London. Military radar systems are also detectable, and thanks to their unique pattern, these signals would look 'clearly artificial to anyone watching from interstellar distances with powerful radio telescopes,' Caisse Saide said in a statement. 'In fact, these military signals can appear up to a hundred times stronger from certain points in space, depending on where an observer is located,' he added. 'Our findings suggest that radar signals—produced unintentionally by any planet with advanced technology and complex aviation system—could act as a universal sign of intelligent life.' It's important to note, however, that it will take many more years for signals to reach any extraterrestrial civilizations located 200 light-years away from Earth. Airports and military operations have only been emitting signals of this strength since the 1950s, and therefore, the maximum distance at which aliens could currently detect them is about 75 light-years in all directions. Seeing as we live in an unfathomably vast, ancient universe with billions of trillions of planets and moons, it stands to reason that we aren't the only intelligent lifeforms in it. Humanity's desire to contact extraterrestrials dates back more than 150 years. The first real communication attempt took place in 1974, when astronomers beamed a radio signal from a powerful transmitter at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico into space. This signal, known as the Arecibo message, consisted of binary code that conveyed information about the basic chemicals of life, the structure of DNA, Earth's place in the solar system, and even a stick figure of a human. If any aliens received it, they haven't responded. That hasn't discouraged scientists from trying to find them. Those working on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) do this passively, scanning space for electromagnetic signals that can't be explained by natural phenomena. Others have taken a more active approach by intentionally transmitting signals or messages to space, like the Arecibo message. These efforts are called METI (Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence) or CETI (Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Not everyone believes this is a good idea. Detractors point out that telling aliens where we are could have disastrous consequences if these beings are capable of harming us or our planet. That's a scary thought. Perhaps even more frightening is the fact that Earth is unwittingly shouting out our existence and location to any radar-detecting extraterrestrial civilizations within earshot. To get an idea of just how noisy our planet is, Caisse Saide and his colleagues simulated how radar signals from airports proliferate across time and space, then analyzed how detectable they would be from stars such as Barnard's Star and AU Microscopii. These stars are located roughly 6 and 32 light-years away from the Sun, respectively. They found that airport radar systems, which sweep the skies for airplanes to inform air traffic control, send out a combined radio signal strong enough for aliens to detect it from up to 200 light-years away using telescopes similar to the Green Bank radio telescope in West Virginia. That's a vast distance. The nearest potentially habitable planet outside our solar system—Proxima Centauri b—is just over 4 light-years away, and it would still take humanity's most advanced spacecraft tens of thousands of years to get there. Signals from Earth's military radar systems are weaker, but more focused and directional, creating an obviously artificial pattern similar to a lighthouse beam sweeping the sky. It's important to note, however, that it will take many more years for signals to reach any extraterrestrial civilizations located 200 light-years away from Earth. Airports and military operations have only been emitting signals of this strength since the 1950s, and therefore, the maximum distance at which aliens could currently detect them is about 75 light-years in all directions. But the point of the study stands; aliens located on a planet 200 light-years away should be able to detect airport signals—but not for another 125 years. Understanding how intelligent extraterrestrials might become aware of our existence can also help guide our search for them, according to Caisse Saide. Identifying and characterizing our own planet's technosignatures, or detectable signs of technology, can tell astronomers what to look for from other planets, he said. At the same time, 'we gain valuable insights into how to protect the radio spectrum for communications and design future radar systems,' said co-researcher Michael Garrett, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Manchester, in the statement. 'The methods developed for modeling and detecting these weak signals can also be used in astronomy, planetary defense, and even in monitoring the impact of human technology on our space environment.' 'In this way, our work supports both the scientific quest to answer the question 'Are we alone?' and practical efforts to manage the influence of technology on our world and beyond,' Caisse Saide said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Unidentified Drones Destroy Iraqi Military Radar Systems
Iraq's Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate a series of drone attacks targeting military radar systems at two separate bases, officials said. The strikes hit a radar installation at the Taji military camp, north of Baghdad, and another at the Imam Ali airbase in the southern province of Dhi Qar. A third suspected drone attack reportedly struck a base near Baghdad International Airport, also housing radar systems, according to local media reports. The incidents came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, though it remained unclear whether the attacks were connected to the development. Sudani said on Tuesday his government would not tolerate any act – internal or external – that threatens national security, vowing a firm and decisive response. 'We will not show leniency toward any aggression that harms the security of Iraq,' Sudani said during a cabinet meeting, according to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA). 'Our response will be resolute and strong,' added Sudani. He confirmed that Iraqi military bases were targeted in what he described as a 'cowardly and treacherous' attack using explosive-laden suicide drones. 'Our armed forces and air defenses responded swiftly to other attempted attacks on different bases, successfully intercepting and downing the drones,' Sudani said, without elaborating on the origin of the attacks. The prime minister also welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Iran, calling it a 'positive step,' and expressed hope that the truce would be 'solid and lasting, not fragile.' Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, also described the drone strikes as 'cowardly and treacherous,' saying the attacks caused significant damage to radar infrastructure. In a statement, al-Numan said a swarm of small, explosive-laden drones had struck the military installations in Taji and Dhi Qar. He confirmed there were no casualties. Images circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the radar station at the Taji base. 'Our forces were able to thwart additional drone attacks targeting four other locations,' al-Numan added, noting that air defenses successfully downed the incoming UAVs before they reached their targets. All of the sites targeted in the recent drone attacks were fully operated by Iraqi security forces, dismissing speculation of foreign involvement. 'All targeted locations are exclusively Iraqi military sites, overseen and operated by officers and personnel from our heroic security forces,' said al-Numan. Following the coordinated attacks, Sudani ordered the creation of a high-level technical and intelligence committee to investigate the incidents, identify those responsible, and fully track the findings of the probe. 'These cowardly criminal acts will not go unpunished,' al-Numan said. 'Our armed forces remain the unshakable shield of Iraq, defending its people, land, and sovereignty.' Military sources revealed that the first drone strike destroyed a TPS-77 radar system at the Taji military base. A second attack targeted an AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar at the Imam Ali base. Local media also reported, citing unverified sources, that a third drone targeted a US-made radar system at Victoria Base near Baghdad International Airport, which has previously hosted US troops. Authorities have yet to confirm this claim. The strikes come amid heightened regional tensions following a US-brokered ceasefire announcement between Israel and Iran. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, the nature and precision of the strikes have raised concerns about a potential escalation.
Globe and Mail
10-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
RTX Secures a $647M Contract to Support AN/SPY-6(V) Family of Radars
RTX Corporation 's RTX business segment, Raytheon, recently secured a modification contract worth $646.5 million to exercise options for hardware production of the AN/SPY-6(V) family of radars. The award has been offered by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. A major portion of the work related to this deal will be executed in Andover, MA; San Diego, CA; Sykesville, MD; and Scottsdale, AZ. The contract is projected to be finished by September 2028. Importance of RTX's AN/SPY-6(V) Family of Radars RTX's AN/SPY-6 is a variant of its SPY-6 radar family that can protect against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hostile aircraft and surface ships at the same time. They offer various advantages over conventional radars, including a longer detection range, higher sensitivity and more accurate discrimination. Its solid demand is evidenced by the fact that SPY-6 radars are being delivered and integrated onto all the Navy's newest ships, including DDG 51 Flight III destroyers, frigates, aircraft carriers and amphibious warships. RTX's Growth Opportunities Rising geopolitical tensions, increased defense spending and the need for advanced threat detection are driving demand for military radars. This must have prompted the Mordor Intelligence firm to project a CAGR of 5.2% for the military radar market in the 2025-2030 period. Such growth projections bode well for prominent radar manufacturers like RTX. RTX's product portfolio consists of varied radars, such as AN/TPY-2, AN/APG-79, APG-82(V)1, GhostEye MR and a few more, which enjoy solid demand in the global military radar market. Opportunities for Other Defense Stocks Some other defense contractors that manufacture radars and are thus projected to gain from the expanding global military radar market have been discussed below: Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT: The company's radars are the choice of more than 45 nations across six continents. Its product portfolio consists of varied radars like TPY-4, AN/APY-9 Radar, AN/TPQ-53 Radar System, SPY-7, TPS-77 and Sentinel A4. LMT has a long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate of 10.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 4.7%. Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC: The company is a pioneer in manufacturing Active Electronically Scanned Array radars, with more than 60 years of experience. Its diverse product portfolio also includes a handful of radars like AN/ZPY-5 VADER, AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, AN/SPQ-9B and HAMMR. Northrop has a long-term earnings growth rate of 3.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 2.8%. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. LHX: The company's product portfolio includes the SPS-48 land-based surveillance radar, AN/APY-11 Multimode radar, Tactical Air Surveillance radar, AN/SPS-48G Long range 3D surveillance radar and many more. L3Harris has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LHX's 2025 sales implies an improvement of 1%. RTX Stock Price Movement In the past year, shares of RTX have risen 31.8% compared with the industry 's growth of 15.5%. RTX's Zacks Rank RTX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells We're not kidding. Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent. Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators, and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone. See Stocks Now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC): Free Stock Analysis Report L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX): Free Stock Analysis Report RTX Corporation (RTX): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
