What type of obstructions can negatively impact the performance of the AN/TPQ-50?

The AN/TPQ-50, commonly known as the Firefinder radar, is designed for detecting and tracking incoming artillery and rocket fire. However, its performance can be significantly hindered by various obstructions.

Natural obstacles, such as hills and mountains, can create radar shadow zones, where the radar waves may not sufficiently reach and detect incoming threats. Similarly, man-made structures like buildings can block or reflect radar signals, leading to potential blind spots or false readings.

Vegetation, including trees, poses another challenge as the radar may have difficulty penetrating foliage, particularly dense tree cover, which can obscure the detection of artillery projectiles.

The correct answer highlights that both buildings and trees can obstruct radar performance, which reinforces the importance of situational awareness when deploying the radar. Understanding these obstructions allows operators to select optimal locations for the radar to maximize its detection capabilities, ensuring that the radar system operates effectively in various environments.