Photonic_radar
Photonic radar is a technique by which radar may be produced and analysed with the help of photonics rather than traditional RF engineering techniques. The frequency of the radar is still in the RF, but lasers are used to create and analyse the RF signals with high precision.[1]
China, Russia and India have active research programs to equip fighter aircraft with photonic radar.[2][3] The potential benefits are longer range of detection, better position sensing, and 3D model target reconstruction.[4]
In one study, a test device could resolve objects as small as 3 x 4 cm (1.2 x 1.6 in), much smaller than traditional radar.[5]