P-18 radar
Early warning radar | |
Frequency | VHF |
---|---|
Range | 250 km (160 mi) |
Altitude | 35 km (22 mi) |
Azimuth | 360° |
Elevation | −5°–+15° |
Precision | 1 km (0.6 mi) (range) |
Power | 260 kW |
The P-18 or 1RL131 Terek (also referred to by the
Development
The P-18 early warning radar is a development of the earlier
The P-18 is still in service today and was widely exported, many companies offer upgrade options to improve the performance and reliability of the radar and to replace out-dated components. NNIIRT offers an upgrade package for the P-18 which includes the installation of a
Description
The P-18 shares many similarities with the earlier P-12NA and like the P-12 it is mounted on two
The P-18 uses a single
Variants
There are a few modifications and variants of the P-18 radar that allow it to be still in use and most of them substantially extend original capabilities.
Lithuania
P-18ML[6] – ground-based long-range VHF surveillance radar P-18ML is offered as the modernized follow-on to its prototype, the analogue P-18. Produced by a private Lithuanian company LiTak-Tak.[7]
Radar features:
- maximum use of COTS components
- stable, fail-soft, modular solid-state transmitter
- built-in test equipment
- no special adjustments required during operation
- largely simplified maintenance
- engineered for minimum cost of ownership
As a result of modernization the radar's detection performance is efficiently improved. Modernized radar features automatic tracking capability as well as data receiving from other radar sensors. Data can be exchanged over a variety of communication channels in approved format. The P-18ML is known to be in use by Ukrainian armed forces.[8]
Serbia
During development of modernization electronic set for P-12M radar it was developed digital data receiver that could be used for both P-12 and P-18 radar modernization by Serbian company Iritel. Today that set is in use by Serbian Air Force and Air Defence for modernized P-12 and P-18 radar.[9] This data receiver enables use of remote control for radar using optical cable at distances from 100 to 500 meters.
Russia
P-18-2 - A P-18 modernization.[10]
P-18T - An upgraded P-18 on a KamAZ-43118 chassis. [11][12]
Operators
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2023) |
The P-18 was operated by the Soviet Union from 1970 and though it has since become obsolete it was passed down to successor states after the fall of the Soviet Union. The radar continues to serve in many client and third world states who received the P-18 from the Soviet Union by export. Many P-18 have been upgraded and continue to serve in the military and air traffic control role across the world.
- Afghanistan – Photographically confirmed as active at Bagram AB in April 1992. After Jamiat-e Islami mujahideen of Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud overrun the base, the radar probably continued to be operated for some time. Eventually it was destroyed during the civil war in the 1990s.
- Algeria
- Bulgaria
- Cuba
- Czech Republic – Used by first "Flying Rhino" NATO Exercise 1999
- East Germany[13]
- Egypt[14]
- Finland – Known as "Maalinosoitustutka 2", used for anti-aircraft artillery as well as now-obsolete S-125 Neva/Pechora batteries.[15]
- Georgia
- Hungary – Displayed during the Kecskemét 2007 Air and Military Show[16] upgraded by HM Arzenal from 2000.[17]
- India – P-18M – obsolete, being replaced by other radars like Rohini
- Kazakhstan – Upgraded by Aerotechnica MLT[18]
- Myanmar
- Poland – Known as "Laura" locally[19]
- North Korea
- Romania[20]
- Russia
- Serbia
- Soviet Union – Passed to successor states
- Syria
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Venezuela – P-18M
- Vietnam[21]
Combat history
The P-18 has served in several conflicts in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. One unusual feature of the P-18 is its counter-stealth capability. Since the radar uses metre-length wave VHF, the shaping features and radar absorbent materials used on stealth aircraft are less efficient, allowing VHF based radars to detect targets at a greater range than centimeter or millimeter wave radar which stealth aircraft are optimized against.[22] The presence of a P-18 radar in Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War contributed to the loss of a US F-117 Nighthawk during the conflict.[23]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Nizhniy novgorod research institute of radio engineering". NNIIRT. 2008. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
- ^ a b РЛС П-12 (in Russian). pvo.guns.ru. 7 August 2000. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- ^ "JSC Defense Systems". Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
- ^ "RETIA, a.s. - Radar modernization". Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ a b c Christian Wolff (2008). "P- 18 "Spoon Rest D"". Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- ^ "P-18ML on LiTak-Tak site". Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "About LiTak-Tak". Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine".
- ^ "VVF DR/P-12/18". www.iritel.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "П-18-2".
- ^ "P-18T/P-19T radar systems".
- ^ "Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine".
- ^ "Bundeswehr behindert Entschädigung von Radarsoldaten" (in German). Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. 18 March 2014. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ Antonio Sánchez Andrés (7 November 2006). "Political-Economic Relations Between Russia and North Africa" (PDF). Working Paper. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "Ilmatorjuntamuseo, Tutkat". AntiAircraft Museum, Finland. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Kecskemet 2007 Hungary Air and military show pictures gallery" (in French and English). Army Recognition. 2007. Archived from the original on 12 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ "P-18 Radar". HM Arzenál Electromechanical Stock Co. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ "Modernised P-18 radar". Aerotechnica Ltd. 1992–2008. Archived from the original on 30 January 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ "Radar Equipment". Ministry of National Defence Republic of Poland. 2005. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ RoAF inventory: P-18 Archived 2012-08-19 at archive.today
- ^ "Hình ảnh 'mắt thần' bảo vệ bầu trời Việt Nam - DVO - Báo Đất Việt". Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ Carlo, Kopp (29 December 2008). "Russian Low Band Surveillance Radars". Air Power Australia. p. 1. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- ^ "Unconventional Weapon". Air & Space Magazine. 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2008., used by the army and the air force of Nicaragua as well