What is the primary effect of Range-Gate Stealers?

• A. Deny radar scan by jamming
• B. Introduce a time delay into the return energy, giving false range information
• C. Increase radar power
• D. Disable radar transmitter

Answer: (B)

Range information on a radar is derived from the time delay between sending a pulse and receiving its echo, with the receiver gates set to expect reflections from specific ranges. A range-gate stealer works by introducing a delayed version of the return signal into the radar’s receiver. This delayed echo lands in a later time window than the real return, causing the radar’s processor to interpret the echo as coming from a greater distance or to register a fictitious target at that new range. It’s a deception built on timing, not on increasing power or disabling equipment. Because the technique shifts where the energy appears in the range domain, it can distort or confuse tracking and range measurements without affecting the transmitter or adding noise in the same way as traditional jamming.