Against the background of increased attacks by Ukrainian drones, Russia has introduced two new air defense systems, Asharq News reports. It is expected that the autonomous target designation system "Yenisei" will expand the capabilities of the S-400 air defense system, and the Valdai radar will be able to detect even the smallest drones.
Russia has announced the completion of production of the autonomous target designation system "Yenisei" and the radar complex "Valdai" in connection with the growing threat posed by Ukrainian drones and long-range missiles.
Gennady Bendersky, General Director of the Almaz Scientific and Production association, said that the company has developed new means of countering drones, which are currently undergoing factory tests.
The Yenisei system supports the operation of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, and the Valdai radar systems help detect drones and counteract them, Bendersky explained.
Information about these two systems remains classified and little is known about them, but reports in the Russian media indicate that the Yenisei system was developed for the S-500 air defense system and may expand the capabilities of the S-400 air defense systems.
The Yenisei system
The Yenisei radar is capable of identifying and tracking aerodynamic and ballistic targets at an altitude of over one hundred kilometers and at a distance of more than 600 kilometers. The command center receives data about the target, which is then transmitted to other components working in tandem to track and destroy the target.
For electronic eavesdropping and aerial monitoring, the radar also has a passive mode of operation. In the latter case, it can transmit target designation data to activate the multifunctional radars of the S-400/S-500 systems to hit the target.
The Yenisei system can also track its own air defense missiles and accurately determine whether a target has been hit.
According to Russian data, the system can also recognize hypersonic targets and has the ability to observe 360 degrees.
The Valdai system
According to Russian data, the Valdai radar system is designed to identify and track targets with a very low radar cross section.
This radar can distinguish between very small drones and other aerial objects, which is very important for accurate neutralization.
The Valdai system is mounted on a three-axle self-propelled vehicle with a container body, and its structural components include a radar module, an optoelectronic module, a control module with a remote control, a radio source bearing module and a counteraction module.
The system also independently provides communication, power supply, etc., and electron-optical detection, radio direction finding and radar are integrated into a vehicle-mounted system consisting of a three-dimensional X-band radar capable of 360-degree scanning.
The radar is paired with a radio signal bearing module to determine the location of unmanned aerial vehicles and their operators, as well as to identify the control and communication channels of the drone.
The device directs a thermal imaging camera at a target, which it finds using a radio direction finder or radar, and an optoelectronic module tracks the target and evaluates the effectiveness of countermeasures.
The jamming module in the anti-drone system can block navigation and control signals.
Important weapons samples
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed the importance of the anti-aircraft missile system in the areas of the special military operation in Ukraine, noting the usefulness of both radars and weapons systems.
The range of weapons that Russian air defense systems must counter is "expanding every day," Shoigu said, noting that "the enemy has FPV drones, longer-range and powerful attack drones, HIMARS missiles, as well as weapons developed in the Soviet era."
The statement was made at a time when Ukraine is intensifying drone attacks on Russian targets behind the front line, forcing Russia to strengthen its air defenses.