* The Navy is fixed on “radar returns are targets”. If they ain’t got a return, it ain’t there. *
I’m reminded of the 2nd clash with NVA PT Boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. Radar returns for the wavetops convinced the deck watches of 2 destroyers that there was a 2nd attack underway. Most agree that the 2nd attack didn’t happen. So sometimes when you DO get a radar return, the boats ain’t there!
Better radar today & better signal processing but false positives are still a fact of life.