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Cold War Radar

Quadradar

Quadradar was a type of transportable Ground Control Approach (GCA) radar.  It weighed less than a ton and brought together different uses of radar systems.

The name quadradar came from quadra, meaning four, because that is how many radar functions were included.  These included: backing up GCA, to be used where GCA could not, to help in resupplying the Arctic, and for use where the Royal Canadian Air Force was involved at Department of Transport runways. 

It also drew on a communication system.  It allowed a radar operator to use a 2-way radio to help land an aircraft.  The plane appeared as a dot on their screen and the runway a line.  They could then direct the aircraft to the runway and the pilot would use this information to land.

The RCAF had 17 quadradars by the early 1950s.