Radome

A radome (a portemantau of Radar and Dome) is a structural, weather-proof covering for satellites or scanning equipment that could shield them from damage via electromagnetic waves and the like. The covering attenuates, or is made invisible from, radar or radio waves, and can also protect people from the spinning equipmnet. Although they normally are given spherical, geodesic, or planar designs, they can also appear as a satellite-shaped object, which provided targeting and display information to a large machine.

During the Peace Walker Project between 1973 and late 1974, the AI weapon Chrysalis was equipped with a satellite-shaped model of radome to provide targetting information. After it was destroyed by Big Boss and the Militaires Sans Frontieres during the Peace Walker Incident in late 1974, they managed to salvage its radome component and attach it to their in-development Metal Gear, called ZEKE.

In 2005, Metal Gear REX had a similar radome design to Chrysalis, although it also provided information about the area outside of Metal Gear REX while keeping the pilot safe from harm via an environment similar to virtual reality. This radome could only be destroyed by lasers or FIM-92 stinger weaponry, which would force the pilot to open the cockpit and expose himself to gunfire. The aforementioned design flaw was deliberately implemented by REX's chief engineer Dr. Hal Emmerich, who wanted REX to be "complete" by giving it a weakness/character flaw. The Radome suffered minor cosmetic damage when Snake fought against Liquid while the latter was piloting REX in the Shadow Moses Incident, although not enough to truly halt it. Gray Fox later stabbed it with his high frequency blade, causing enough damage to render REX temporarily blind for a period of time. It was eventually destroyed for good by Gray Fox via a heavy barrage from his arm cannon, although not before being pinned to a wall by REX.