What is the primary function of antennas in radar systems?

The primary function of antennas in radar systems is to transmit radar signals and receive the echoes that bounce back from targets. This process is fundamental to how radar operates. When the radar system sends out a signal, the antenna plays a crucial role in directing this signal into the environment.

Once the radar wave encounters an object, it reflects back towards the antenna. The same antenna, or sometimes a separate receiving antenna, captures this echo, allowing the radar system to analyze it. The time it takes for the echo to return helps determine the distance to the object, and the characteristics of the echo can provide information about the object's size, speed, and shape.

Therefore, antennas serve as the vital link between the emitted radar signals and the information received from target objects, facilitating the entire process of detection, tracking, and identification. Other options like creating visual displays, storing data, or minimizing distortion involve additional components and functions in the radar system but do not define the primary role of antennas themselves.