Right, and of course the frigate possesses little signal processing capabilities that compensate for such interference, in the unlikely event that it occurs. In fact, I'm beginning to think the Chinese RF engineers didn't understand the interference issue at all, which is why they have placed the radar in such a terrible spot. To compensate, they've decided to jury-rig a FCR and crammed it in a small recess underneath the HQ-10 launcher, forgetting to or failing to put it on top of the launcher, which would be the ideal location. Or alternatively, they've decided to magically use 2D navigation radars to somehow acquire elevation data for the HQ-10.
Or, maybe there's no FCR underneath the missile launcher after all, because it doesn't need it, since the type-364 already serves that function, with no blind spots.
Why jump through so many increasingly ridiculous hoops to justify a mistake? Choose the simpler and more dignified path.
Of course the frigate has signal processing capabilities. The thing is, the main radar is using one of the most common used military bandwidths in the most commonly used purpose, which is search. And then you have every warship, both friendly and enemy, using the same band. How can you detect and distinguish the signals of others when your own signals is shining right next to them? Its possible if the Type 364 is doing a full 360 degrees, the ESMs are deactivated, and if the ESMs are operating, the main search radar is deactivated (read the last paragraph.)
The elevation of the Type 364 radar are also limited, as it doesn't scan vertically like phase arrays or planar arrays do. Its mainly meant for surface search, and will catch low flying targets collaterally like any 2D radar do. I never said that I am happy with this choice of radar, and actually I feel more like criticizing it. A full 3D search radar with vertical scanning that's a phase array or AESA can be available for this ship if the PLAN wants to, code named SR2410C, and its been installed on export Type 056s for Bangladesh. Its not as if the designers are unaware of it, they quite are, and probably wish the new radar to be installed on future PLAN Type 056s.
The radar rotates around 30 RPM. That's how fast it updates its picture. If you have a fast incoming target, that's won't be fast enough to track it accurately. This isn't the best type of radar for precise tracking against fast moving and close threats.
I never said anything about the 2D radars trying to acquire elevation data. All these radars are meant to scan the surface.
This has been said to you more than a couple of times. An FCR underneath the launcher would not require the launcher to be depressed to scan for low surface sea skimmers. With the launcher in a not depressed position, the missiles can be fired at an arc that can achieve greater range. The FCR would also have a much higher scan rate that isn't limited in dwell and updates by mechanical rotation. The FCR can be small, work via continuous wave illumination, gives an endless uninterrupted stream of real time updates that measures range very precisely. A CWI radar is very compact, that's why they're used in missile seeker heads, used as radar guns for speeding cars, used in the back of the cars to aid parking. You don't need a search or a full blown tracking radar on top of the launcher, all you need is a CWI unit. If you are adding a search radar function to a CIWS, it would be convenient to put it on top yes, but we're not looking to add a search function, we are looking to add a fire control function. You already got your search radars somewhere.
Finally you keep losing the purpose of the warship. You got all these radars doing surface search, because that's where its main concern and threats are --- catching submarines on the surface, opposing surface ships which can range down to fast patrol boats, gun boats, and FACs, and the missiles they will fire will almost certainly be of the sea skimmer variety.
So even if the Type 364 and the navigation radars do pick up a surface threat, they may still need to queue in a much faster tracking FCR type radar towards the target, as these radars are primarily search radars. They are not meant for the fire control function. That's basically how the SAM control chain works. Search Radar (1) -> Tracking or Fire Control Radar (2).
Two RWRs are behind the HQ-10 to locate and triangulate for radar emitting threats. You can assume the ship also uses tactics where it has gone completely radar silent and in stealth mode --- the ship uses a stealthy design for a reason. All the radars are deactivated and the ship will rely mainly on its RWRs and ESMs for threat detection. The guns are still supported by EO, and the missiles work through a thermal and an HOE (home on emissions) mode. I should add that the two 30mm guns in the side have EO and can be controlled remotely, which means the EO's view can be viewed from a tactical room, and its possible from there the controller can also queue the missile launcher using the same data, assuming the CMS can do that.
