Targets at close range to an interrogator set will reply in which directions of the antenna?

In radar and antenna theory, targets that are close to an interrogator set can reflect signals based on the design and lobes of the antenna. Antennas radiate energy in specific patterns defined by their lobes: the main beam, side lobes, and back lobes.

When targets are within close range, the signals can be picked up from multiple directions because the antenna's side lobes and back lobes can also receive reflected signals. Specifically, the side lobes can pick up targets that are slightly off-axis from the main beam, while the back lobes can capture reflections from behind the antenna.

In this scenario, the correct response identifies that close-range targets can indeed produce replies detectable from the side lobes and back lobes as well as from the main beam. This multi-directional sensitivity increases the chances of receiving valid returns from targets that may not be directly in front of the antenna, which is crucial in operational contexts such as military applications or weather radar systems.