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I said radar.. A transponder is not a radar.
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It's not a traditional radar that just sends out signals and processes the reflected signals, but there is a type of radar that works with transponders, namely the Secondary Survelliance Radar.
The traditional radar you're talking about is the Primary Radar.
Secondary (transponder-based) radar is state-of-the-art in aviation and is based on the transponder. ATC's radar screens all work with transponders, that's how information about altitude etc. is transmitted as well. If somebody turned off this transponder, he would not show on the ATC radar screen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seconda...eillance_radar
It's pretty much a question of definition. But whether you call it radar or not, the important thing is that the pilots do have a device which shows other aircrafts in the vicinity, their altitudes, and if they climb or descend, so they actually see the traffic on the navigation display, have a good situational awareness, and in case of a dangerous proximity they'll be warned and given advisory on how to avoid a collision.
RJ