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The SCR-270 was an early radar system developed by the U.S. Army, operating at a frequency of 100 MHz. It was designed for detecting aircraft and was available at the start of World War II. One SCR-270 unit famously detected the approach of Japanese planes towards Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, though the significance of this detection was not fully appreciated at the time. This radar was part of a broader global effort in the 1930s to develop radar technology for military purposes, with similar initiatives occurring independently in several other countries, including Great Britain, Germany, and the Soviet Union. While early radars like the SCR-270 were crucial, advancements during the war, such as the development of microwave radars like the SCR-584, significantly improved performance and accuracy.12

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