Rosoboronexport has announced the launch of the 59N6-TE mobile radar station, which is capable of tracking hypersonic targets, on the world market. Information about this is available on the official website of the company.
“Today Rosoboronexport is launching the latest radar station capable of efficiently detecting a wide class of modern and promising air targets, including hypersonic targets. When developing the export version of the radar, the growing importance of air defense systems in ensuring the security of states, as well as the needs of foreign customers to increase the intelligence capabilities of air defense units and units, ”was taken into account,” the press service quotes the words of the director general of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheev.
The company emphasizes that the 59N6-TE radar station is 100% Russian development and is based on a modern domestic element base.
“In addition to hypersonic targets, it also effectively detects aerodynamic and ballistic objects,” Rosoboronexport notes.
According to military expert Yuri Knutov, this radar has been used for several years in the Russian troops and has proven itself well.
“This is a fairly well-known and unique radar. It is not the first year that we have been in service. It is considered one of the best in the world in range and accuracy of determination. Its advantages are that it can see targets made using stealth technology, as well as objects flying at hypersonic speed, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.
- Radar 59N6-TE
- © Rosoboronexport JSC
“Take top positions”
59N6-TE was developed at the Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Radio Engineering (JSC FNPC "NNIIRT"). This organization is part of the Almaz-Antey concern, known in the world due to its S-400 (Triumph) air defense system.
“The 59N6-TE radar is designed to provide the coordinates of targets to an automated air defense control system. The installation controls the airspace, determining the target in azimuth, range, altitude, speed and flight path. This system can be part of quick response systems, as well as work in an air traffic control system, ”military expert Alexei Leonkov said in an interview with RT.
Station 59N6-TE can detect targets flying at a speed of up to 8 thousand km / h at a range of up to 450 km and an altitude of up to 200 km. After detecting the target, it transfers the received information to other devices working with it in conjunction. Under the conditions of functioning of noise interference generators, a radar can perform direction finding of their sources.
“It has a fairly high degree of resolution, plus there is a small feature in that it can operate in conditions of strong counteraction of electronic warfare systems,” said Lenkov.
The station has automatic and semi-automatic capture and tracking of airborne objects. As noted in the Rosoboronexport press release, the radar can simultaneously track at least a thousand objects and recognize eight classes of targets. It is also capable of "conducting a selection of anti-radar missiles and warning combat crew of the danger of defeat, including high-precision weapons and homing missiles."
The delivery set of the 59N6-TE radar includes an antenna-hardware complex and an indicator post installed on the platforms of KamAZ-6560 vehicles. It is a heavy off-road chassis that is also used in the Pantsir anti-aircraft systems. According to experts, these machines have been in use in various modifications since 2005, and during this time they managed to prove themselves well.
The developers emphasize that the radar can also be performed in a stationary version or mounted on a high-rise tower and other structures.
To ensure the safety of station operators, it is equipped with remote workstations. When using a fiber-optic communication line, such a post can be located at a distance of 1 km, and when working through a radio channel, up to 15 km.
The company management is convinced that the 59N6-TE radar will be in demand on the market.
“I am confident that in today's conditions and with the obvious prospects of hypersonic technologies, the 59N6-TE radar will occupy the top positions in its market segment and will become an important acquisition for countries that are building their air defense system taking into account global trends in the development of air attack systems. We count on the high demand for the new station in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and North Africa, ”said Alexander Mikheev, general director of Rosoboronexport.
- Radar 59N6-TE
- © Rosoboronexport JSC
Hypersonic Age
According to experts, today only Russia has hypersonic weapons on alert. First of all, we are talking about “Dagger” missiles, which are installed on supersonic MiG-31K long-range fighter-interceptors.
In addition, at the end of 2019, a missile system with the Avangard guided combat unit took up combat duty in the Russian armed forces. The development of the Zircon hypersonic rocket, intended for the Russian fleet, is also being completed.
However, many countries are trying to reduce the technological gap from the Russian Federation in this area and are actively conducting relevant developments.
In August 2019, it was reported that Beijing experienced its first hypersonic device. The Chinese device is called Xingkong-2 and is capable of speeds up to 6 Machs.
In turn, the United States allocates substantial funds for the development of hypersonic weapons: if the Pentagon pledged $ 2.6 billion in programs for creating hypersonic weapons in the military budget for 2020, then in 2021 this figure reached $ 3.2 billion. The United States conducted a successful test launch of a prototype hypersonic weapon.
In March 2020, the Ministry of Defense of Japan announced plans to develop two types of hypersonic weapons: the HCM cruise missile and the HVGP hyperspeed soaring unit. Similar work is carried out by France and Germany.
Under these conditions, experts interviewed by RT note that a radar capable of tracking hypersonic targets will be in great demand on the market: countries need to think now how they will defend themselves against this rather formidable weapon that can overcome existing missile defense systems.
“I think that 59N6-TE will be in demand both among our traditional customers and new ones. It will be relevant, including due to the fact that the United States and other countries are developing hypersonic weapons. States with difficult relations with the United States will, of course, be among the main buyers, ”says Yuri Knutov.
In his opinion, domestic radar can be especially effective in conjunction with Russian air defense systems.
“If you have a fully automated complex, an automated control system, plus modern air defense systems, the same S-400, then you can hit hypersonic targets in an automated mode. A person will only control what is happening, ”the expert explained.
Among the possible buyers of Russian radars, he named India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Iran, Egypt and Algeria. Knutov emphasized that Russia is now deservedly considered the leader in the development of air defense systems, therefore Rosoboronexport has every chance of success.
“In terms of air defense systems, we have been leaders for decades. But recently, we are creating air defense systems that meet the requirements of not today, but tomorrow. Our air defense systems and radar stations are really advanced technology, few can compare with us in this, ”the analyst concluded.