In **Alpha 4.5**, Star Citizen’s radar system has evolved into a vital tool for survival and industrial profit. Because radars are currently **fixed and unswappable**, your ship's built-in hardware defines its operational "ceiling".

Check our full article on Ship Radar statistics. Inside, we break down the latest ship-by-ship radar sensitivity rankings.

[Know Your Hardware: The Complete List of Ship-Installed Radars and their IR, EM, CS, and RS values](https://cstone.space/resources/knowledge-base/89-know-your-hardware-the-complete-list-of-ship-installed-radars-and-their-ir-em-cs-and-rs-values)

### The Four Core Signatures

- **IR (Infrared):** Heat emissions; spikes when using thrusters or high-power weapons.
- **EM (Electromagnetic):** Power consumption; can be lowered by toggling ship systems.
- **CS (Cross-Section):** Physical size; determined by ship hull and orientation.
- **RS (Radar Signature):** Reflectivity; used by active Pings to locate distant objects.

### Exploration in 4.5: Detecting the Unseen

The RS scanning loop has been significantly expanded to support planetary surveying. Ship radars can now detect **harvestable biologicals** and **planetary mines** from the air.

However, it is important to note that **radar stats are not yet finished.** In the current 4.5 meta, dedicated exploration ships like the Carrack or Terrapin do not necessarily have the best RS values. In fact, several other categories of ships currently outperform them in sensitivity due to the ongoing balance pass. This makes checking your specific ship's current "RS sensitivity" essential before heading out.

Alpha 4.5 adds planetary scanning for mines and harvestables via RS values; since ship radars are bespoke and fixed, you must know your hull's specific stats as non-exploration ships currently often outperform pathfinders.

Ship Radars and their scanning capabilities

The Four Core Signatures

Exploration in 4.5: Detecting the Unseen