Originally Posted by
Staggerwing
Hunter 58,
Early in this blog, I made a post concerning radar tracking by naval vessels that may have been close to the flight path of the aircraft. I did not receive a reply from anyone at the time and maybe you could answer the question: would naval vessels be able to track the aircraft using primary returns and, if so, what would be the range if the aircraft remained at a FL greater than FL200?
I was assuming that there would have been some naval vessels, from various countries, operating somewhere in the area believed to have been overflown by the aircraft.
Last bit first, probably not.
Then ability to track depends on the type of ship as air search is a specialised role usually for destroyers, cruisers and carriers. Smaller vessels, such as patrol boats and up to frigates will not usually have an air search capability and would rely on data links for a recognised air picture. The RAP would only be available if they were in a link with other air defence units, ships and AWACS. It that part of the world, unless on operations or exercises, it would be unlikely that there would have been any real chance of ships being present and detecting 370.
Other than units on operations, many navies operate on a day running basis and certainly expect a weekend in port.