Image source: topwar.ru
ZDPSR Bystra is one of the most interesting and important Polish solutions presented at the MSPO 2023 exhibition in Kielce, writes Defence24.
The article says that the Polish army has already ordered 38 such radars to date. So, in 2019, the Ministry of Defense purchased 16 radars of this type for 635 million zlotys with deliveries planned in 2023-2025. Then, in March 2023, the Minister of National Defense approved a contract for the supply of 22 more Bystra radars from Pit RADWAR for 21 Pilica+ kits with delivery until 2028.
As a result, as they write in the publication, by the deadline stated above, this radar should become the most massive in the Polish army.
The authors of the article emphasize that the introduction of fundamentally new technologies into the Bystra radar gave this station the opportunity to perform tasks inaccessible to similar complexes of an older generation. Thus, radar operators can conduct not only surveillance with the detection of almost any type of air targets, but also separately target anti-aircraft missile systems at detected objects.
The new radars were based on developments on SOLA radars, eight units of which were transferred to the Polish ground forces to meet the needs of the POPRAD wheeled self-propelled air defense systems. Visually, Bystra is very similar to its predecessor.
Due to its relatively small size and weight, the new radar station can be mounted on small wheeled armored personnel carriers AMZ Zubr P with a load capacity of 3.5 tons. All components of the radar complex are installed on the main machine of the Bystra radar, including communication devices (radio and wired), navigation systems (GPS and inertial), a power subsystem together with a generator set, two operating stations (including one portable) and auxiliary elements (for example, cooling systems and a weather station).
As a result, as the article says, Pit RADWAR managed to create a radar station with high mobility and speed of movement. At the same time, the transition time from the marching position to operational work (without preliminary topographic and geodetic preparation) does not exceed 5 minutes.
Finally, the authors of the article emphasize that the Bystra radar, due to its versatility, will find application not only in the Polish ground forces. Thus, the radar can be used as a multi-purpose surveillance radar for ships built as part of the modernization program of the Polish Navy. In addition, Bystra can be an excellent replacement for Nur-23 radars also used in the Polish Navy.