The work is devoted to the review of the current state and development trends of airborne-based radar systems with a time-varying relative spatial configuration. The relevance of consideration of the state and tendencies of development of radar systems of aviation-ground based with time-varying relative spatial configuration due to the practical need to obtain radar images (radars) of objects in the front area of the system review, taking into account the growing requirements for promptness and accuracy of image detection of real-time surveillance in a complex signal-interference environment. The generalized structure of the construction of the systems considered in the work is presented and the main prospects for their practical application in solving the problems of classifying radar objects and monitoring radio emission sources are determined. Estimates are given of the main qualitative characteristics of the images of radar objects when applied when using the systems considered and the accuracy of determining the coordinates of radio emission sources is estimated based on an approved mathematical apparatus. The priority areas of scientific research on the further development of the theory of multi-positional reception of radar information in the conditions of information uncertainty when using systems with a time-variable relative spatial configuration are determined.