THE HISTORY OF MILITARY RADAR
Originally developed by the British during World War II, radar provided an important tool for U.S. armed forces in World War II. RAdio Detection And Ranging equipment, coined RADAR by the U.S. Navy in 1940, allowed the military to adapt and use a new landing aid called ground control approach (GCA). The military selected Gilfillan Brothers, Inc. (today part of ITT), in Los Angles, CA, to develop the system in 1942. The following year, U.S Air Force air traffic controllers began routinely using GCA equipment to help military pilots land safely in poor visibility. The system was not designed for en route air traffic control.