Saab ARTHUR counter-battery radars in Ukraine
ARTHUR radar of Ukrainian formations in a camouflaged position. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Foreign countries hand over to the Ukrainian regime not only weapon, but also radio systems for various purposes. In particular, up to several dozen counter-battery radars were shipped this year alone. Recently it became known that Swedish-made ARTHUR radars hit Ukraine. Where and in what quantity they arrived is not yet known. However, these stations are already suffering losses.
The secret becomes clear
Swedish-designed ARTHUR counter-battery radars are in service with several foreign countries. None of them has so far officially declared their readiness to transfer such equipment to Ukraine. However, this decision was nevertheless made and carried out in an atmosphere of secrecy. Not later than August-September, one of the operators seized several radar stations from their own units and sent them to the Kyiv regime.
The delivery could not be kept secret. The Russian army found out about the new radar stations - and took the necessary measures. On September 24, our Ministry of Defense reported that in the area of the settlement. Mikhailovo-Zavodskoye (Dnepropetrovsk region) was destroyed by the counter-battery radar "Arthur". She was identified as Norwegian. The defeat of other stations has not yet been reported.
On October 10, reports appeared on Ukrainian resources about the appearance of a foreign radar at the disposal of one of the artillery reconnaissance units. It was alleged that this is the ARTHUR station in the MAMBA version, which is in service with the British Army. The number of such equipment, its distribution between departments, information on operation, etc. are not given.
The message was accompanied by a video showing the movement of a self-propelled radar through the terrain, deployment to positions and imitation of combat work. The equipment is equipped with camouflage nets; for greater safety, it is placed in natural shelters.
MAMBA radar station of the British army in Iraq, 2004. Photo by the UK Ministry of Defense
On October 12, the Norwegian edition of TU published different information. It claims that the ARTHUR radar came to Ukraine from Norway. In addition, TU discloses the details of the deliveries. So, three self-propelled stations were transferred. The first ones were sent to the Kyiv regime in the summer.
Source of help
According to the latest reports from various countries, the Arthur radar could have come to Ukraine from the UK or Norway. However, there is another version that indicates the involvement of a third country. The real supplier of equipment could be Sweden - the manufacturing country and one of the starting customers.
Blogger Andrej Kraft from LiveJournal drew attention to the appearance and configuration of vehicles in service with different countries. British Army MAMBA stations have several design features. In particular, safety arcs are installed on the sides of the windshield. The same or similar parts are available on the equipment of almost all countries, incl. Norway.
Radars seen in Ukraine do not have protection in front of the windshield. There are no arcs at the stations operated by the Swedish army. There are other differences as well. In this regard, the blogger suggests that Sweden actually transferred the ARTHUR stations. Why this episode of assistance was decided to be classified is unclear. Perhaps the Swedish leadership is afraid to openly weaken its own army, which already has a lot of problems.
"Radar for hunting artillery"
The counter-battery radar ARTHUR (Artillery Hunting Radar) was developed in the early nineties by the Swedish company Eriksson Microwave Systems (now a branch of the Saab concern). The customers were the land forces of Sweden and Norway, who wanted to get a modern locator for detecting enemy artillery positions and adjusting the fire of their guns.
Norwegian station ARTHUR. Photo by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense
The new radar entered service with the Swedish and Norwegian armies in 1994. Due to the limited size of artillery, orders were minimal, and rearmament of the two countries did not take long. At the same time, Eriksson began to take orders for export deliveries. Until the end of the 10s, ARTHUR stations of various versions were purchased by XNUMX foreign countries.
As production continued, modernization of the original product was carried out. By improving or replacing the equipment, all the main characteristics were increased. So, the basic version of the ARTHUR Mod A radar could detect guns at a distance of no more than 15 km, and in the Mod C project this parameter was increased to 30-31 km.
Great Britain became one of the main customers of the radar. She purchased ARTHUR Mod B products and demanded that they be modified. Such radars entered service under the name MAMBA (Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Asset). South Korea has become another major customer. By the middle of the 20s, it had purchased at least 25-XNUMX stations.
Not so long ago, Ukraine became another operator. At the same time, for obvious reasons, she did not order new equipment. One of the foreign countries gave her their used stations in order to help. If it was Norway or Sweden, then the three transmitted radars belong to the very first modifications and are distinguished by limited characteristics and great age with all the attendant problems. In addition, one of the "Arthur" has already been destroyed by the Russian army.
Struggles and adjustment
ARTHUR / MAMBA is a self-propelled counter-battery radar. The station only operates from the spot after a brief deployment and is manned by a crew of four. It is possible to spot the positions of foreign artillery and adjust your own fire.
Initially, the radar was mounted on a two-link articulated transporter Bv 206; radio equipment is located in the rear case. Later, a container version of the station was developed, suitable for installation on any suitable truck. In both cases, high mobility is ensured on different routes and terrains.
"Arthur" of the Swedish ground forces. Photo by the Swedish Ministry of Defense
The station operates in the C-band and is equipped with a passive phased array with electronic scanning. The primary data is processed by the onboard computer system, after which information about the targets is issued to the command post or other consumers. Radars can work independently or as part of a division with the distribution of tasks.
Two modes of operation are provided. At the first station, the station detects shells and missiles flying from the enemy, determines their routes and calculates the starting point. The data goes to fire weapons for a retaliatory strike. In the second mode, the receding ammunition of their guns is tracked and their points of impact are calculated. This information is used to adjust the fire.
The first modification of ARTHUR Mod A could detect the firing positions of enemy guns or correct the fire of their howitzers at ranges up to 20 km. The positions of 120-mm mortars were spotted from 35 km. In the future, according to the results of modernization, the range and accuracy of detection were constantly growing.
The current modification Mod C detects guns and howitzers from 30-31 km and mortars from 55 km. The upgraded radars now have the ability to detect rockets; such targets are tracked from a distance of 50-60 km. The station of the latest version processes up to 100 objects per minute. It is reported on the development of the next modification Mod D, again characterized by increased range and speed.
Quantity and benefits
Thus, in recent weeks or months, Ukraine has received several counter-battery radars of a new type for it. At the same time, the supply of foreign ARTHUR products is again not without problems, and the effect of such equipment is unlikely to be tangible. Moreover, it has already begun to be destroyed.
ARTHUR in container design on a truck chassis. Photo by the Italian Ministry of Defense
First of all, again there is a problem of quantity. If the data of the Norwegian press correspond to reality, then only three stations have been delivered. This equipment will only be enough to cover certain areas, and the destruction of one of the stations further reduces this "potential".
Apparently, the "Arthurs" were transferred by Sweden, and this is one of the old modifications. Radar versions of Mod A / B have a limited detection range and speed. This means that part of the guns or MLRS of the Russian army simply cannot be detected. At the same time, massive shelling will overload the station and will not allow it to identify all firing positions and issue target designation.
Older versions of the locator are not highly resistant to interference. In addition, the enemy, represented by the Russian army, can detect such stations and hit them - which is already confirmed by practice. One "Arthur" has already been put out of action, and the destruction of the two remaining is now only a matter of time.
familiar story
The observed situation around foreign ARTHUR radars as a whole looks familiar. Foreign partners again handed over to Ukraine a small amount of non-new equipment with an exhausted resource. It is obvious that such help will not give any real benefit. Moreover, the received stations have already begun to knock out.
It should be noted that this time the foreign partners and the Kyiv regime tried to hide the supply of equipment to the last. However, the Russian army learned about it in time and began to take appropriate measures. And now the prospects for the current situation are clear. Foreign radar stations will not affect the course of battles and will be destroyed.
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