It allows you to locate mini- and micro-UAVs at extremely low altitudes
In the Moscow region, a unique Airspace Control System (SCS) has begun operation, which is capable of detecting not only airplanes or helicopters, but also mini- and micro-drones at extremely low altitudes and targeting them with air defense or electronic warfare systems. The developers told Izvestia about the capabilities of the equipment that is already being used to protect important objects from UAVs.
"Baba Yaga" will not fly by
SKVP is a network of radar stations with a fixed phased array antenna. They can be installed on tripods, on vehicles and on the roofs of high-rise buildings, cell towers and even on the balconies of ordinary residential buildings. The radiation from such a radar is so small that it does not require a sanitary passport. It was originally developed as a civilian air traffic control system, but its own adjustments have been made.
There may be 24 such radar stations in the SKVP network. Each radar weighs 110 kg. This was told to Izvestia by the deputy chief engineer of the developer company Central Design Bureau of Hardware Engineering from Tula (part of the holding company High-Precision Complexes of the Rostec State Corporation). According to the developers, the first systems are already working in the Moscow region.
A Russian Armed Forces soldier carries a captured Ukrainian drone
Image source: Photo: AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis
— The system can detect the most difficult aerial target, — said the deputy chief engineer. — To make the radar see a fighter or bomber is available to any manufacturer in the world. We can also detect such types of aerial targets as copter-type drones the size of a piece of paper. A copter that carries a maximum video camera, such as the Mavic 2, is guaranteed to be detected at ranges up to 4 km.
According to the developers, the Baba-Yaga type drone, as well as aircraft-type UAVs, for example, Ukrainian Furies or Mugin, which strike industrial facilities, are detected at a distance of 15-18 km. Cessna-type aircraft can be seen 30 km away, and the mainline Boeing can be seen more than 90 km away.
The system simultaneously tracks up to 20 aircraft, including small-sized UAVs, determining their type, altitude and distance to them.
If the SQUP is linked to an air defense or electronic warfare system, it will be able to give them target designation in real time.
The engineers managed to achieve high reliability of the equipment, the test samples worked 18 thousand hours without switching off — this is more than two years.
— We have abandoned systems where cooling is needed and there is friction, — said the representative of the company. — Due to this, we have neither wear nor dust, which means that the resource is maximized.
There is no need to equip a special command center for the UPC, where information about the air situation would be processed. It is displayed on the laptop monitor.
Protection is needed everywhere
We need to control the airspace over the entire territory of Russia, military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia.
"The experience of a special military operation shows this,— he explained. — We all know about airplane-type drones that can fly deep into our territories over long distances. There are also local dangers — sleeping enemy agent networks. They can be located almost anywhere in the country and activate on command. They can carry out an attack with the help of drones.
Now we have to work on "flashes", he said.
"We are saturating cities with airspace control systems, anti—aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare equipment, as well as radar stations after enemy attacks," he explained. — It is clear that at some time there was a shortage of them. The problem is being solved now. And we need such systems.
Radar station 1L119
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Pivovarov
The expert also believes that the UPC should have a combat option for the line of contact.
— We have a direction called interspecies radar. This station belongs to this class and operates in the meter range. Any aerial objects can be seen in it, including live ones, for example, birds, so it will help identify and destroy the necessary targets," summed up Alexey Leonkov.
Military expert Yuri Lyamin explained to Izvestia that the characteristics of the system are claimed to be good, it is important whether they are confirmed during operation.
— Relatively small radar stations are designed to detect small drones even at low altitudes. Thanks to them, we can control the airspace and see various aircraft. For this reason, a lot of radars are needed now and their production needs to be increased. The only thing that arises here again is the question of how much our industry is ready to provide for their production," he concluded.
Ready to receive
The fight against unmanned aerial vehicles of all types is now receiving close attention. Earlier, Izvestia wrote that the station of the Kamchatka brigade of ships protecting the water area received a post of the anti-ship protection Directorate (PRZ), as well as air surveillance points with a watch service. Twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns were installed in places with firing-friendly sectors around the perimeter of the base.
The soldier of the VFU
Image source: Photo: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
The Navy has already conducted several exercises to repel attacks by enemy air and sea drones. They were held as part of the combat training program for anti-ship protection, which provides for the development of tasks for the destruction of unmanned boats (BEC) and UAVs.
Vladimir Matveev
