Definition
A single radar return displayed on an air traffic controller's scope when two or more aircraft are so close together that their individual radar returns merge and can no longer be distinguished as separate targets.
Plain English
When two aircraft get close enough, the controller's radar shows them as one blob instead of two separate dots.
Context Anchor
Seen in traffic display and air traffic control discussions where aircraft position information from different systems is combined.
Derivation
From Latin 'fundere,' meaning to pour or melt together. The idea is that two distinct things have melted into one — exactly what happens to the radar returns on the scope.
Why Pilots Care
Fused targets give controllers a more precise and continuous picture of aircraft position, reducing the chance of separation errors.
Intuition Check
Fused does not mean the aircraft themselves are connected or merged. It means separate electronic reports about the same aircraft have been combined into one displayed target.
Example Sentence 1
ATC advised that our return and the traffic at our 2 o'clock had become a fused target and asked if we had the other aircraft in sight.
Example Sentence 2
ADS-B data improved the fused target accuracy during the busy morning push.