The influence of a signal distortion, which occurs when the gain of a reception unit in a radar apparatus is adjusted, is reduced, thereby lessening the degradation of received signals. A pulse signal is generated, as a transport signal, by a pulse generating unit (101), and then repetitively transmitted via an antenna (104) at constant time intervals. A received signal, which is received via an antenna (106) and includes a reflected wave having been reflected by an object, is amplified by an amplifier (107) and then gain-adjusted by a variable attenuator (108). Thereafter, a distance detecting unit (111) detects a received pulse of the reflected wave, thereby calculating the distance from the object. The variable attenuator (108) attenuates the received signal by use of the gain that has been adjusted in accordance with a gain control signal supplied from a gain adjusting unit (113). The gain (attenuation amount) of the variable attenuator (108) is controlled in such a manner that the gain becomes largest just after the transmission of the pulse signal and then becomes smaller as time goes by. The gain adjustment timing at which to change the attenuation amount is made different, on the basis of a gain adjustment timing signal from a timing adjusting unit (112), for each transmission of the pulse signal.