What is the method of control used for radar operations?

• A. Positive control
• B. Passive control
• C. Manual control
• D. Hybrid control

Answer: (A)

The method of control used for radar operations is positive control. In radar-based fires, positive control means the radar data is positively identified, tracked, and passed to the fire control system with clearance from the appropriate authority before any fire is released. This ensures the target data are verified, deconflicted, and associated with the correct firing element, preventing misidentification or fratricide. Radar provides the target’s track and range data, but positive control ties that data to a verified firing order from the Fire Direction Center or equivalent authority, guaranteeing the right unit engages the right target.

Passive control would rely on information without granting firing authority, which isn’t enough to authorize engagement. Manual control implies direct, hands-on control by the gun crew without a centralized authority, and hybrid control combines elements of different methods; neither provides the same level of centralized verification and deconfliction that positive control ensures.