Neptun (radar)


Neptun was the code name of a series of low-to-mid-VHF band airborne intercept radar devices developed by Germany in World War II and used as active targeting devices in several types of aircraft. They were usually combined with a so-called "backwards warning device", indicated by the addition of the letters "V/R". Working in the metre range, Neptun was meant as a stop-gap solution until scheduled SHF-band devices became available.
Transceiving antennas used for the Neptun on twin-engined night fighters usually used a Hirschgeweih eight-dipole array with shorter elements than the previous 90 MHz SN-2 radar had used, or as an experimental fitment, the 90°-crossed twin-element set Yagi based Morgenstern single-mast-mounted array.

Variants

FuG 216: Experimental series to plan the further development
Installed in Fw 190 A-6/R11 and Bf 109 G-6
The aircraft were used by NJGr 10 until March 1944, after which some machines of 6./JG 300 were equipped.
FuG 217: Installed mainly in Ju 88 G-6, only a few Bf 110 G-4, He 219 or Me 262 received the Neptun. It could be combined with the additional Elfe device to automatically measure the target distance and fire the guns at a pre-set range.
FuG 218: mass-produced