What are the radar stations of the Russian Federation and Europe capable of
In a special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian group uses an advanced system of military air defense. In addition to anti-aircraft missiles and interceptor fighters, the third component of air defense is radar stations (radars). What potential does our country have for these all-seeing eyes?
PERFECTING THE "SKY"
One of the radars is the 1L13 "Nebo–SV" circular viewing station. It provides information about the air situation, specific targets, and information to firing means. "Nebo-SV" can work together with the Buk-M2 air defense system, destroying Ukrainian planes, helicopters, UAVs.
The Nebo-SV radar has long been the main means of illuminating the air situation in military air defense. The stations are deployed in positions, looking for targets within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. The detection range of a fighter–type target at high altitude is 350 km, at low altitude – 60-70 km. The accuracy of determining the direction is up to 1 °, the range is up to 600 m. The radar works independently or in a multicomponent system.
1L13 "Sky-SV" is placed on three trucks: an antenna post, a platform with an antenna-rotary device, a power plant. A ground radar interrogator is located separately on a two-axle trailer. It determines the nationality of the air target. The radar is deployed in 40 minutes, turns on in three minutes. The calculation of the station is six people.
The range "Sky-SV" is meter. Thanks to this, the station also detects those objects that are elusive for other wavelengths.
The radar has a folding flat antenna array with 72 emitters. There is an additional three-element grid. There is no vertical scanning in the station's functions, since it is two-coordinate (determines the course to the target and the range to it), and azimuth scanning is provided by constant rotation of the grid. A separate radio altimeter is used to determine the altitude. The height is also given by the SAM – by its radar means.
Mobile radar is quickly transferred to the right place, and a long detection range allows you to control a large area. "Sky-SV" works on airplanes and helicopters of different classes, drones, guided weapons. During a special operation, the enemy uses UAVs, often difficult to detect. But the radar detects them and transmits the data to the command post.
The disadvantages of the basic version of the station, identified including during the fighting, include its two-coordinate. The meter range, in addition to the advantages, gives less accuracy in determining coordinates. Mobility and speed of deployment do not quite meet the requirements. However, the disadvantages are eliminated in the "Sky-IED" variant. And a long deployment is offset by the correct choice of position and its cover.
On the basis of "Nebo-SV" 1L119 "Nebo-SVU" was created. This radar has a different element base, it is already three-coordinate. It has increased characteristics: increased range and accuracy of target detection, noise immunity.
"WAVE" AGAINST DRONES
We said above that the calculation of the Nebo-SV radar sometimes has difficulty detecting unmanned aerial vehicles. It is especially difficult to detect small drones – flying scouts, fire spotters, shock weapons. Multicopters in the hover position are dangerous: the Doppler–Belopolsky effect does not work with radars. The selection of moving targets (SDTS) is based on it, namely, on the difference between the radar pulse that irradiates the target and the pulse reflected from the moving target. The stationary UAV is invisible. In addition, the effective scattering surface (ESR) of small drones is very small.
To avoid weaknesses in the fight against drones, a small-sized three-coordinate radar station with a multipath active antenna was created. The radar station was named "Wave". The technology of continuous radiation with frequency modulation is used. This allowed the "Wave" to detect with high resolution and accompany inconspicuous targets. The radar works around the clock, in any weather, automatically notifies of the detection of drones by their suppression system.
The modular design principle made it possible to design a stationary version and a portable version. In the stationary version, the "Wave" can be installed on the roofs of buildings, along the border, along the perimeter of protected objects. One stationary "Wave" scans the space within a radius of 30 km. The mobile version is designed for army special forces. The "wave" is small, even elegant, consumes little energy.
The radar has been tested, a trial batch has been made. The stationary version takes over the experimental duty. The mobile version will pass military tests.
THE HORIZON IS NOT AN OBSTACLE
The scientific and production enterprise "Salyut" has patented a mobile coastal over-the-horizon radar station. Salyut, a leader in the development of shipboard radars, has given the novelty increased radiation stealth.
The station will be able to detect, accompany, and issue target indications for surface and air objects, including small-sized high-speed ones. At the same time, not only within the line of sight, but also behind the radio horizon.
The new coastal radar will allow shock weapons with a range of about 400 km to operate. It is characterized by high noise immunity, a small blind spot (only tens of meters) and a range of more than 500 km. The phased array antenna quickly and with high accuracy changes the position of the beams in space.
The radar is mounted on a high-passable wheeled chassis with a power supply system and life support equipment. It can be placed anywhere on the coast without preliminary preparation of positions.
TWO RANGES AT THE SAME TIME
The Russian Aerospace Forces and Ground Forces are already receiving serial Niobium radar stations. With their installation in positions, air defense is strengthened, its capabilities are expanded.
Niobium was developed by the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Radio Engineering (NNIIRT), part of the concern of East Kazakhstan Region Almaz-Antey. The progenitor of the Niobium project was the Nebo family. The first version of the 55J6UM was intended for the air defense of the Aerospace Forces. The second one – 1L125 "Niobium-SV" – was created under the requirements of military air defense.
The 55ZH6UM product is a mobile radar of medium and high altitudes of the standby mode. "Niobium" is mounted on semi-trailers and wheeled chassis. The station has a folding active phased array antenna (AFAR), a cabin with calculation sites, power supply facilities, etc. Deployment takes five hours. There are two AFARS on one antenna device of the station – a rangefinder and an altimeter.
The radar uses two ranges at the same time: the rangefinder works in meter, the altimeter – in decimeter. Two bands provide better noise immunity of the station.
Niobium, like most radars, detects and accompanies aerodynamic and ballistic targets, determines the nationality of an air object, and locates sources of radio interference. The characteristics of the product for the Russian army are unknown, but the parameters of the export version 55ZH6UME are known: the detection range is 600 km, the height is up to 80 km. A target with an effective dispersion area (ESR) of 1 sq. m is detected from 430 km . The maximum speed of the target is 8000 km per hour.
"Niobium-SV" for military air defense is built on the same principles. The facilities of the complex are placed on automobile chassis. It is possible to deploy the complex in spaced positions using communication via cables and radio channel. The 1L125 radar antenna device has smaller rangefinder and altimeter canvases, both AFARS are directed in the same direction.
The complex for military air defense in the export version "Niobium-SV" has a detection range of 400 km, height – up to 40 km.
The stations can be deployed in areas without radar cover or complement the existing radar network. Direct communication with anti-aircraft complexes is provided. These radars can be used in non-strategic missile defense.
THE "ENEMY" OF THOUSANDS OF TARGETS
Over the years, the developers of the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Radio Engineering (NNIIRT) have launched about 50 types and modifications of radar and RLC in a series. And now – the newest radar of the fifth generation 59N6-TE "Enemy".
The new radar is capable of detecting with high efficiency modern and promising means of air attack of almost all classes existing in a potential enemy, including targets flying at hypersonic speeds. This last quality is extremely valuable.
When creating an export version of this radar, the developers took into account the needs of customers to increase the intelligence potential of air defense. 59N6-TE was developed exclusively on the domestic element base. In terms of the range and accuracy of determining the target, the Enemy is deservedly considered one of the best stations in the world. The station is able to effectively detect and track even objects made using stealth technologies.
The functional purpose of the 59N6-TE radar is to provide accurate coordinates of air targets to an automated system that controls air defense systems. The "enemy" is designed to effectively control the airspace, identifying objects by range, azimuth, speed, altitude and flight path. The station can be included in rapid response complexes.
The "enemy" is capable of detecting objects at an altitude of up to 200 km and a range of up to 450 km. The flight speed of targets can reach 8000 km per hour. In addition, 59H6-TE is able to effectively locate sources that generate noise interference. The station is distinguished by its high resolution and the ability to work with the counteraction of electronic warfare. The "enemy" can simultaneously accompany at least a thousand air objects.
In case of danger, radar operators can use remote workstations at a distance of 1 km via a cable. The control of the radar through the radio channel increases this distance to 15 km.
While the radar "Enemy" has not yet said its authoritative word in practice. But it has long been said by the radar "Caste". Its new products entered the army in early 2022.
Radars provide coordinates of aircraft and their movement parameters for the air defense control system via radio channels and cable communication line.
"Casta" is a mobile three–coordinate radar station of circular view. It can be used as an air traffic control and airspace control radar in airfield zones.
THE DECLINE OF EUROPEAN RADAR
The Russian special military operation in Ukraine will lead to an acceleration of trends in the European ground-based radar market. Many Western experts think so.
The armed forces of some European countries are formulating new requirements to strengthen the missing capabilities of their air defense in the field of radar surveillance of airspace. Many Europeans are investing in long-range radar.
Today, many air defense radars are aimed at intercepting enemy missiles, artillery shells and mortar ammunition. These radars are in high demand. But there have been some changes in the field of air defense.
On the eastern flank of NATO, Romania recently received Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems equipped with AN/MPQ-65 radar. Poland is expected to deploy the first Patriot air defense systems by the end of 2022, but the United States may accelerate their delivery amid instability in the region. Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain are also armed with Patriot air defense systems with their radar. Sweden received its first Patriot in 2021.
According to forecasts, Germany will abandon the previously made choice of the MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System) air defense and missile defense system and choose the Patriot system of the next generation. Patriot is equipped with a promising Ghost Eye all-round radar (formerly known as LTAMDS) developed by the American corporation Raytheon.
In fact, EU members tend to invest in their own solutions, that is, in European radars. These are the radar families Saab Giraffe, Thales Ground Master and five others like them. Some radars could be offered to Europeans by the Israeli company Elta (a division of the IAI concern).
The latest US systems are only now becoming available. The main question is to what extent the Europeans support the solution of the tasks of long–range detection, missile defense and air defense at the expense of internal programs. Today, the United States provides the vast majority of NATO's ground capabilities in these areas.
The ground-based version of the American AN/SPY-1 radar is used at a missile defense facility in Romania (put on combat duty in 2016). This complex should be fully commissioned in the middle of this year. The work was accelerated after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.
On the southern flank of NATO, a mobile American ground–based radar AN/TPY-2 manufactured by Raytheon for missile defense is deployed in Turkey. However, it is largely aimed at protecting against threats from the Middle East.
Since the United States performs most of NATO's early detection, missile defense and air defense operations, in the short term, an expensive European solution is unlikely to arouse much interest.
In other words, the Americans are foisting on the "allies" from the EU not only their expensive oil and gas, but also their equally expensive radars, at the same time depriving the Europeans of their own locational perspective.
Nikolay Poroskov
Nikolay Nikolaevich Poroskov is a military journalist.
