The Soliton Radar System was a type of radar that could detect biological reactions, invented by Mei Ling in the 2000s, although the basic technology existed as early as 1974.^[1]

Contents 1 Information 2 History 3 Behind the scenes 3.1 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 3.2 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker 4 Notes and references

InformationEdit

The Soliton Radar employs the KdV equation to detect the electromagnetic waves resulting from biological reactions, allowing the user to obtain a variety of information about the immediate area. It could even estimate the interior structure of buildings by bouncing electromagnetic waves from the land structure in question to a satellite. The main difference between the Soliton Radar and the Reactive Radar, used by Solid Snake during the Operation Intrude F014, is that the Soliton Radar could display the direction in which an enemy was facing. Although the radar is completely unaffected by adverse weather, it otherwise has a fragile signal, becoming jammed easily in areas with strong harmonic resonance or in confined spaces such as vents.

HistoryEdit

During the Peace Walker Incident in 1974, Big Boss's mercenary group, the Militaires Sans Frontieres, developed a device similar to the Soliton Radar.

The Soliton Radar was used by Solid Snake during the Shadow Moses Incident, and then again during his mission on the USS Discovery, both times to aid in infiltration. Although during this mission Philanthropy was working independently, it is possible that the United Nations granted them access to the required satellite. Following the Tanker Incident, however, any credibility that Philanthropy had disappeared, and their truly independent work from then on could explain its lack of use during Liquid Ocelot's Insurrection. Raiden also made use of the Soliton Radar during the Big Shell Incident. Naomi Hunter, when sending the SOS signal to Philanthropy at South America, also included a Soliton Radar map data to show where she was located.

Behind the scenesEdit

The radar is a constant element in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (which uses the Reactive Radar), Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2 (both of which use the Soliton Radar) to show the position of the player, and enemies around them. In Metal Gear Solid 3, the radar is not used, due to it not existing in the time that the game is set, being replaced by various other sensors, including a sonar and a motion sensor. It is also absent in Metal Gear Solid 4, having been replaced by the Solid Eye System, although the radar itself was briefly mentioned in the briefing for Act 2.

Ripped coding from Metal Gear Solid suggests that, in addition to the Alert, Evasion, Caution, and Normal modes, there would have also been a "Dying" mode. The title implies that it would have appeared if Snake was either killed, prior to the Game Over screen, or close to death.

The radar reacts actively to the environment, changing color to reflect the mood of the enemies (blue for normal, yellow for suspicious, and red for alerted) as well as getting "knocked offline" when the player is spotted. It can also be used to view pictures or videos sent to the player, or, in MGS2 only, view the location of bombs (though this requires a separately obtained sensor).

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsEdit

A Soliton Radar file is used by Naomi to hide information for Snake and Otacon. The radar itself is included in the Shadow Moses dream sequence.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace WalkerEdit

"High-power sensor that displays surrounding topography and enemy positions. Only functional in Normal Phase. (Ranks 2-4) Modified to extend battery life. (Rank 5) Modified to consume no battery power at all."

— Soliton Radar description in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

A Soliton Radar appears in the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker TGS demo while playing as Sneaking Suit Snake, although this version has limited usage due to its reliance on batteries. This would appear to be a retcon of Metal Gear Solid, since Mei Ling had previously been stated as having been its creator. In the full game, the radar's specifications are made available after the first mission in Chapter 5.

Notes and referencesEdit

1. ^ Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Kojima Productions (2010).
   After completing the first Zadornov capture mission, one of the rewards is the blueprints for the Soliton Radar.