What was the original purpose of developing secondary radar technology?

The primary intent behind developing secondary radar technology was to enhance the capability of identifying aircraft targets as either friend or foe. This identification feature, commonly known as IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), allows air traffic controllers and military personnel to differentiate between friendly aircraft and potential threats. Secondary radar achieves this by emitting a signal that prompts the aircraft's transponder to reply with a unique identifier. This interaction enables air traffic control systems to gather critical information about the aircraft, improving safety and situational awareness in crowded and complex airspace.

In contrast, options focused on increasing the range, power, or providing additional information to primary radar systems do not capture the crucial role of secondary radar in target identification, which revolutionized aerial surveillance and air traffic management.