What is the difference between Range-While-Scan (RWS) and Track-While-Scan (TWS)?

• A. RWS provides range information during scanning; TWS maintains and updates tracks while continuing to search.
• B. RWS is when the radar only reports bearing; TWS is range reporting only.
• C. RWS and TWS are identical in function.
• D. TWS provides range information during scanning; RWS updates tracks while searching.

Answer: (A)

Range-While-Scan is about obtaining range information to targets as the radar sweeps. As the antenna scans, the system measures the distance to each detected contact and reports those ranges in real time, without necessarily maintaining a continuous history or identity for every target.

Track-While-Scan adds persistence. While the radar continues scanning for new targets, it also creates and continually updates tracks for multiple targets, combining successive detections to estimate each target’s position, velocity, and trajectory, and to predict future positions. This lets you monitor several targets over time even as you search.

So the key difference is that Range-While-Scan emphasizes real-time range data during the scan, whereas Track-While-Scan emphasizes maintaining and updating target tracks while the search continues.