Before radar, early warning systems relied on sound mirrors—massive structures designed to detect aircraft.
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Sound mirrors used acoustics to amplify distant aircraft noise, offering early warnings before visual detection.
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France, Germany, and Britain explored acoustic detection before World War I, but Britain fully embraced sound mirrors.
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Between 1916 and the 1930s, Britain developed a network of sound mirrors along its coast for defense.
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Sound mirrors were limited by weather conditions, background noise, and their short detection range.
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As aircraft speeds increased, sound mirrors became obsolete, leading to new innovations in detection.
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In 1886, Heinrich Hertz proved that radio waves could reflect off objects—laying the foundation for radar.
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In 1904, Christian Hülsmeyer patented an early radar-like system for detecting ships in fog.
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Radar technology rapidly developed during World War II, transforming air defense and naval warfare.
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Radar revolutionized battle strategies, allowing forces to detect enemies even in complete darkness.
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From weather forecasting to automotive safety, radar technology now serves many civilian purposes.
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Advances in radar continue to shape industries like healthcare, agriculture, and space exploration.
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Image source: By Paul Glazzard, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org