“There are no direct analogues in the world for these products”: the designers of the Central Research and Production Association “Leninets” talk about new radars for the Russian army

- In September, the team of the Leninets Scientific and Production Association (St. Petersburg) at one of the test sites near Moscow conducted a demonstration of the capabilities of the small-sized ground-based radars MARS-2 and Ares-MVK.

Previously, these products were presented at the international forum "Army-2022".

Is there any military interest in radars and how do they differ from modern counterparts?

Vladimir Ramitsyn: There is an

interest of military structures in our radar stations.

And our ultimate goal is the adoption of "MARS-2" and "Ares-MVK" into service with the Russian army.

We very much hope that this will happen in the near future, and we are ready to finalize the radar to meet the requirements of customers in a short time.

"MARS-2" and "Ares-MVK" are completely new products that were developed on their own initiative and have passed all the necessary factory tests to date.

The main purpose of our stations is counter-battery combat and UAV detection, however, by their nature, these are multifunctional products.

They can be used not only in artillery units.

For example, "MARS-2" and "Ares-MVK" can be used to protect military and strategically important civilian facilities.

• Radar "Ares-MVK"

• © TsNPO "Leninets"

Our radars can perform a number of tasks based on their functional purpose.

This is their main difference from modern and previous analogues.

Let me explain: the radars that are now used in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the armies of foreign countries have a fairly clearly defined specialization.

They do a good job with a single task, but the nature of modern armed conflicts, due to the abundance of threats from the air and the ground, dictates the need to use multifunctional radars more often.

In our opinion, now the radar station is required to fix UAVs, and manned aircraft, and missiles, and various types of artillery ammunition, and moving ground and surface targets.

At the same time, the radar should also “be able” to adjust the fire.

MARS-2 and Ares-MVK are designed to fill in the gaps I mentioned.

As far as we know, there are no direct analogues of these products in the world. 

If we talk about the specific use of MARS-2 and Ares-MVK, then first of all we are focused on supplying the Ground Forces.

We are confident that our radars will make it possible to increase the effectiveness of counter-battery combat and detection of UAVs, including small-sized devices with a minimum of metal parts.

The Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy helped our enterprise to achieve such results.

Her teachers, consisting of officers of the RF Armed Forces, unbiasedly assessed our work, pointed out shortcomings, suggested what needs to be improved.

In addition, thanks to the participation in the project of the Mikhailovsky Academy, we were able to test the radar at the 33rd combined-arms training ground near the city of Luga, Leningrad Region.

Currently, we continue to cooperate with the academy and have the opportunity to conduct various experiments in the field.

What are the differences between the two stations?

Vladimir Ramitsyn: 

"MARS-2" and "Ares-MVK" are made on the same principles.

The difference between them lies in the field of view.

"MARS-2" is a three-coordinate all-round survey station.

It scans space 360 ​​degrees, while Ares-MVK monitors a separate sector.

Creating "Ares-MVK", the team of the Central Research and Production Association "Leninets" proceeded from the fact that the troops do not always need an all-round view.

For example, artillerymen, as a rule, have an idea of ​​​​the location of enemy positions, and this station is better for them.

• Radar "MARS-2" during testing

• © TsNPO "Leninets"

— What might the use of your radars look like in practice?

Vladimir Ramitsyn:

Small dimensions and light weight allow both stations to be installed directly on the ground, roofs of buildings and any mobile platforms.

The easiest way to use the radar is to transport it in the back of a car and install it on the ground using a tripod.

Two or three people can bring the station into working position in three minutes.

Now, for the deployment of modern analogues on the ground, a calculation of five to six military personnel is required.

Of course, when transporting MARS-2 and Ares-MVK, certain precautions must be observed so as not to damage the antenna fabric.

But these are ordinary requirements familiar to every military man.

As tests have shown, our stations are unpretentious, all-weather, normally tolerate shaking during transportation, withstand the impact of a shock wave, and comply with all available GOSTs.

— What can you say about the characteristics of the stations?

Sergey Ivanov

: In addition to all that has been said above, I will add that our radars are distinguished by their low cost and low power consumption.

In addition, we have developed a very "friendly" interface, making it easier to manage.

What I mean?

On modern radars, there are a huge number of all kinds of abbreviations that are not so easy to remember.

"MARS-2" and "Ares-MVK" are controlled remotely - via cable or radio channel.

This allows the operator to perform all necessary tasks from cover.

Radar information is processed automatically.

The operator sees the targets on the monitor.

By the nature of the movement, he can understand what object he is observing - a rocket, an artillery shell, a UAV.

For identification without the participation of an operator, a target recognition system based on a neural network is integrated into the radar.

She is constantly “training” with us, remembering the characteristics of different types of targets during tests.

In the case of the use of radar in the course of counter-battery combat, an analysis of the trajectory, the speed of the target and other indicators associated with it takes place.

As a result, the coordinates of the location of the enemy battery are calculated.

The radar operator transmits data from the computer to the control point, where appropriate decisions are made.

Our team understands that modern combat rules dictate the need for the most efficient transmission of information.

Therefore, if a potential customer provides us with protocols, we will develop software for sending data via a digital communication channel that is interfaced with ESU TK (unified tactical level control system).

The transfer of information will take place in real time, which will naturally shorten the cycle of combat control.

• A variant of fire adjustment using a radar developed by TsNPO "Leninets"

• © TsNPO "Leninets"

Tests have shown that MARS-2 and Ares-MVK are capable of detecting moving objects at a distance of 13 km.

At first glance, this is a small indicator, but it is not.

If we talk about the conditions of observation, then the range of the radio signal, in principle, rarely exceeds 7-8 km due to the terrain and greenery (the radar signal does not pass through hills, forests and artificial barriers. -

).

- How long does it take to calculate the coordinates of the enemy battery?

Sergey Ivanov

: There are many factors that affect the speed of the computational process.

But according to very rough estimates, about 10 seconds.

— How do you manage to fix small-sized UAVs?

After all, radars mainly respond to large objects.

Sergey Ivanov

: Yes, modern radars have difficulty detecting small drones.

However, our stations are equipped with highly sensitive receivers that allow us to receive reflected signals even from small surfaces.

In general, MARS-2 and Ares-MVK do an excellent job of fixing targets with a very small effective scattering area (ESR).

In simple terms, these are the so-called "invisibles" - aircraft with low radar visibility.

The maximum detection range of small drones by our stations is at least 5 km.

But I will not hide it - there are also extremely difficult targets, like miniature civilian quadcopters like DJI Mini.

In recent tests, we were able to detect such a drone at a distance of 2 km - this is a serious achievement.

Moreover, DJI Mini is now actively used for reconnaissance in the interests of the Armed Forces.

- A wide range of means of destroying sources of radar radiation can be used on a modern theater of operations.

These are anti-radar missiles and electronic warfare systems (EW).

In the end, control and observation posts can be destroyed by artillery, tanks and saboteurs.

Is there a reminder that radars are very vulnerable and that it is almost impossible to protect them?

Sergey Ivanov

: Of course.

When artillery is actively used, both sides of the conflict are always hunting for each other's radar stations.

Radar losses become almost inevitable.

However, there are tactics that allow you to confuse the enemy and reduce the damage from his blows.

I will not go into details, but I can say that the easiest way to effectively use counter-battery radar in theaters is to install active and reserve stations at a certain distance from each other.

There are special algorithms for their work that allow you to confuse the enemy.

However, a large number of radar stations are still required to be transferred to the combat zone.

At the same time, the economy of war requires that they be not too expensive and mass-produced.

MARS-2 and Ares-MVK meet these criteria.

— Now there are many discussions about the counter-battery fight.

Obviously, the experience of the special operation suggests the need for its further improvement.

How can your stations help in this process?

Vladimir Ramitsyn:

We developed the radar taking into account the trends that have recently emerged in counter-battery warfare, but have not yet been implemented.

In this context, the staff of our enterprise considers MARS-2 and Ares-MVK as one of the elements of gaining information superiority.

What is this about?

Now counter-battery combat is based on calculating the coordinates of an enemy gun after a shot, which a priori unmasks the enemy.

Naturally, the efficiency of calculating the coordinates of the location of enemy artillery is important, and our radars, after being integrated into the ESU TK, will be very good helpers here.

However, even a very well-built system of such counter-battery combat does not always make it possible to destroy enemy artillery.

This is especially true for countering MLRS systems.

If they shoot several missiles, then they may not have time to cover them with return fire.

With other complexes, of course, it is simpler, but modern artillery constantly changes positions and can engage in live firing for a maximum of 20-30 minutes per day of combat duty.

Keeping up with modern mobile artillery systems is becoming increasingly difficult.

There is a need to change the very concept of counter-battery combat.

The new approach should be to hit enemy artillery even before the first shot.

To this end, it is necessary to create a more advanced reconnaissance and information circuit, where the radar and unmanned aircraft will detect the target before it appears on the firing line.

The destruction of an artillery battery will be carried out when it has stopped to prepare for firing or directly on the march to the firing line.

The concept of preventive counter-battery warfare, which I am now talking about, can only be realized by gaining information superiority.

This requires comprehensive measures to improve unmanned aircraft, radar, communication and control facilities.

For our part, we are confident that the Russian army will definitely adopt a new intelligence and information circuit, the elements of which can be our multifunctional stations.