OK. I'm sorry if this question is a little naive, but what exactly is "radar lock"?

Question

A little explanation would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Not naive at all, actually...

Generally speaking, interception radars be they SAM or AI (Airborne Interception) search, and track/acquire.  A "radar lock" is normally when a threat radar changes modes from Search to Track/Acquisition.  The radar is specifically tracking YOU and getting your relative velocity/closure rate/altitude (for some systems) preparatory to firing.  This is pretty d**n important as a missile is probably going to be coming at you in seconds.  This would normally a Radar Homing missile which tracks the paint on the target ("paint" is reflected energy).  IR missiles, AKA "heaters", don't use the information per se, though the crew would use the range/velocity information to make a launch decision.

Countermeasures are jam the threat radar to disrupt the reflected energy; one can drop chaff which blooms on the threat radar, due to its reflecting more energy back than the bandit (it does other stuff liking moving the centroid but it basically works like this), and maneuvering to s***w up the tracking solution.  Details on exactly when/how to do this get into tactics-and I'm not going to go there.

Answer 2

The radar in military fighting aircraft is really two or more different radars. There's the general search and then the targeting mode. Think of it as the same as your head and your eyes. When you're walking down the street, you look around, not spending much time looking at anything in particular, at least not for any length of time. Then the Jessica Alba look-alike walks by and you cone in, ignoring the rest of your surroundings but concentrating on her. That's radar lock.

Answer 3

It means when a signal has been identified and radar is locked onto the signal.  The object being tracked is now on a screen and has been identified as either friendly or other.  A missile can be fired on any object that has been locked on to. Providing it is within range of that missile.

Answer 4

Your radar transmitter/detector has a constant signal from the target, thus the target can be tracked.

Answer 5

That is when Radar from Mash hears the Helicopters 30 seconds before they arrive... not really

It is when the radar system lock onto the target so the missile can track and hit the target.

Vet-USAF