What is one major disadvantage of secondary radar?

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The correct choice highlights a significant limitation of secondary radar systems. Secondary radar relies on transponders installed in aircraft to communicate with the radar ground station. Only those aircraft equipped with functioning transponders can be detected, which means that any aircraft without a transponder will not be identified by the secondary radar system. This reliance on transponders can create challenges in scenarios where aircraft are not equipped, such as certain military aircraft or older models. In contrast, primary radar can detect any object within its range irrespective of whether it has a transponder.

The other choices, while true about some aspects of radar technology, do not pertain to a disadvantage. Displaying weather information is often an additional feature of radar systems that can be beneficial. Operating in all weather conditions indicates a reliability advantage of secondary radar. Finally, having no range limitations typically describes the capabilities of primary radar, which can detect targets at greater distances without obstruction by transponders, rather than indicating a disadvantage of secondary radar.