Large, powerful, long-range over-the-horizon radars can detect the approach of ballistic missiles and alert defensive systems thousands of miles away. Moreover, powerful phased-array search radars on large ships such as aircraft carriers and cruisers as well as airborne radars on early warning aircraft (AWACS) can detect aircraft and tactical missiles hundreds of miles away. Shorter-range fire-control radars can detect immediate local threats less than 50 mi away and dispatch intercept missiles.