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I think military dishes aren't necessarily pointed at friendly satellites. They might be eavesdropping on foreign satellites and the domes might serve to conce

I think military dishes aren't necessarily pointed at friendly satellites. They might be eavesdropping on foreign satellites and the domes might serve to conceal which from prying eyes. I suspect large dishes may have utility in such a role, since they might be listening to low power side-band emissions from those satellites (e.g. Van Eck phreaking.) Either way though, I don't think radomes are meant to conceal the position of the satellites themselves.

ok_dad 5y ago
That could be for some applications here and there, but the major factor is protection (I had a job related to military antennas and radars, but I obviously didn't see every system out there). Those huge golf balls on the water definitely do some sigint and a bit of radar tracking on very long range sources such as missile tests, but everyone knows about those missions: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2013/04/01/breaking-news/giant-golf-ball-radar-ship-to-monitor-north-korea/ https://www.staradvertiser.com/2013/04/01/breaking-news/gian...