Shatalovo MRIK-VKO/80P6 (S-band)

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is deploying radar 80P6, created by RTI within the framework of MRIK-VKO, in the area in the Mityuli region of Smolensk. The fact of the existence of this facility and system are moderately well attested, but the details are mightly sparse. Much of what is known is due to the pathbreaking work of Treadstone 71.

The development of new means and methods of air and space attack of Russia's probable adversaries requires the development of flexible and quickly reconfigurable system solutions to counter new threats to the domestic aerospace defense system (VKO). The key link in such a system is the development of highly informative, energy-efficient, high-precision radar missile and space defense (RKO). Over the past more than half a century of modern history, several generations of radar stations of RKO have been created, which made it possible to work out and test in practice the methods and techniques of their creation quite well.

However, the constant increase in the requirements for the developed radars of a new generation inevitably leads to the need to use a wide range of new systemic, design and technological solutions in their creation, and, consequently, methods of creating radars. Thus, the requirements for promising radars are sharply increased, both in terms of their characteristics and in terms of requirements for the scientific and technological process of their creation. Among the fundamental conditions that determine the complexity of development, include: increasing requirements for the level of tactical and technical characteristics of the radar; shortening the design and production time of new generation radars.

The main sources of risk in the design and creation of radars are errors in the justification and adoption of new technical solutions in the project, which are characterized by a high level of uncertainty (underestimation of the complexity and scope of work, readiness of the instrument base, human resources, etc.). This leads to an increase in the originally planned time for the creation of the radar, as well as to a decrease in the attainable characteristics of the sample. The use of the concept of "risk" in relation to the creation of a radar is justified by the fact that due to the uncertainty of a number of design conditions (incompleteness or inaccuracy of information on design conditions) there is a possibility of negative consequences in the form of failure to achieve the required values ??of tactical and technical characteristics or exceeding the allocated funds and violation of terms manufacturing.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is locating the 80P6 radar station created by RTI JSC as part of the MRIK - VKO ROC, in the area in the settlement Mityuli of the Smolensk region. The external view of the antenna post of the "MRIK-VKO" product is published in the magazine "Intellect & Technologies" No. 2 (14) 2016, produced by JSC "RTI". The article on page 59 considered the methodology for creating a new generation of missile defense radars.

Treadstone 71 relates that In the presentation of PJSC "Yaroslavl Radio Plant" from 2018, the product 80P6 was also assigned to the SPRN equipment. JSC "RTI", on its website indicates : The multifunctional reconnaissance and information complex (MRIK) is designed to: increase the efficiency of solving aerospace defense problems in the most important missile-hazardous areas; solving problems of information support of the formed aerospace defense connections, as well as mobile complexes; and information support for tests and combat training launches of domestic ballistic missiles in the areas of test ranges.

Treadstone 71 reports that of the two depicted MRIK-VKO, only the right one can refer to the early warning system, while the one on the left is something else. The one on the left may well be in Shatalovo, and the right one looks like Yakhroma. TBut these depictions may simply be cartoons with configureationd unrelated to these systems. The line between the radar "only for early warning systems" and others is increasingly blurred. One thing is for sure - MRIKs must be fast-erected, and, if necessary, mobile (like "Donets"). In the terms of reference for the design of the technical position of the product 80P6 (object code "1960"), the maximum electrical power consumed by the product itself is indicated - 1840 kW, which makes it possible to approximately estimate the power of the station for radiation at 800-1000 kW.

According to Treadstone 71, the location of the projected "Object 1960" is indicated in the TZ as: "7 km south-west of military unit 55840 (Shatalovo airfield)". There are no traces of the construction of a new facility in this area; the only existing military facility in this area is military unit 23476 (branch of military unit 42685) from the 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation [12 GUMO], which provides Shatalovo airfield with "special products" [aka atomic bombs]. This is a long established facility with two concentric lines of trees shileding the facility from external view. At least three concentric lines of fencing running in the clearing between the tree lines provide physical security. These fences, visible from vegetation scars, are still maintained, as indicated by the gate at the access control point. A single underground bunker with drive-through vehicular access at the northern end of the complex is presumably the nuclear weapons storage facility.

Treadstone 71 states that satellite imagery of this military unit's territory show that since the second half of 2019, a container-type product has been deployed on the southeastern site (54°18'23.51"N 32°21'38.65" E). This area at the south-eastern end of the complex is roughly symetrical with the north-western drive through weapons storage bunker, but appears generally dis-used. Unfortunately, the quality of the images does not allow reliably determining the configuration and purpose of the objects, which include five structures that resemble 40-foot shipping containers, as well as a rather larger structure of complex configuration. A further number of such shipping containers are at the other side of the possible disused drive through. No large antenna is in evidence. If it is a radar, then it is oriented in the south-west direction, with the axis of the survey sector towards Poland. There is no other obvious reason for this orientiation, which is not aligned with the paved areas in this part of the complex [unlike the containers on the other side of the drive through, which are aligned with the pavement].

There is another rather curious structure located not too far outside the security perimeter, to the northeast of the secure area. This structure is about 50 feet by 200 feet, and seems to have peaked central roof, though the shadows are frustratingly ambiguous about the exact shape of the building. This building has a configuration not prevoiusly seen in Russia, or elsewhere. In fact, it rather resembles a Hen House antenna, and is also oriented in the south-west direction, with the axis of the survey sector towards Poland. It may be that the container complex within the security perimeter is a transmitter, and the larger trapezoidal structure outside the perimeter is the receiver.

Multifunctional reconnaissance and information complex (MRIK Mnogofunktsionalnyy Razvedyvatelno Informatsionnyy Kompleks) is intended for: increasing the efficiency of solving aerospace defense tasks in the most important missile-hazardous areas; solving problems of information support of the formed aerospace defense connections, as well as mobile complexes; and information support for tests and combat training launches of domestic ballistic missiles in the areas of test ranges.

An industrial technology is being developed for creating hardware and software systems that provide ultra-wideband radars of high factory availability in the L and S bands in conditions of dispersive distortions of signals in the atmosphere for use in Voronezh-SM products and 80P6 MRIK-VKO mobile complexes.

According to the files of the Tomsk Region Arbitration Court, NPF Mikran and the Academician A.L. Mints RTI in 2013 entered into an agreement on the development and supply of antenna transmitting units for a multifunctional reconnaissance and information complex. The general customer of the work was the RF Ministry of Defense. As an advance, RTI transferred 200 million rubles to the contractor. However, later, at the initiative of the customer, the work was stopped. The components were never developed.

Initially, RTI planned to collect 225.8 million rubles from Mikran, taking into account interest for the use of funds. However, the contractor proved that he had carried out research and development in the amount of 127.3 million rubles. These data were confirmed by the general customer of the work. The unearned advance payment amounted to 36.3 million rubles.

The arbitration court satisfied the claim of RTI and ordered Mikran to pay the customer an unjust enrichment in the amount of 36.29 million rubles, as well as 7.65 million rubles as interest for the use of other people's funds. Mikran will pay 43.9 million rubles to RTI for incomplete implementation of the agreement on the development of components for the reconnaissance and information complex of aerospace defense. The construction of the domestic layered missile defense system is expected to be completed by 2025, said in an interview with the Parliamentary Gazette, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RTI, general designer of RTI, general designer of the missile attack warning system of the Russian Federation, Sergei Boev 23 June 2021. According to S. Boev, "the collisions of the late XX - early XXI centuries testify to the decisive influence of air attack weapons (AED) not only on the course of hostilities, but also on the outcome of the wars themselves. At present, the active development of AED has a great influence on itself to develop aggressive plans."

Boev noted that the development by a potential adversary of hypersonic aircraft (GZLA) and aerospace aircraft (VKS) formed the basis for the concept of a new form of use of aerospace attack weapons (SVKN) - the so-called. "Instant Global Impact" (Moscow State University). In accordance with this concept, the defeat of the most important military, political and economic objects of the opposing side is assumed. Possible methods of using high-precision weapons (WTO) can be the simultaneous, sequential, combined or selective application of global strikes against critical targets of an unwanted state in one or more strategic aerospace areas.

According to S. Boev, the Aegis Ashore ground-based missile defense systems deployed in Romania and Poland with universal vertical launch systems MK-41, which allow, in addition to the Standart-3 anti-missile missiles, to use Tomagawk cruise missiles, are a direct threat to the Russian Federation. Covert re-equipment of launchers to accommodate medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) is not excluded. "In the current situation, Russia's countering the threat of inflicting MSU can only be ensured by the creation of an effective anti-missile defense (ABM) system within the framework of aerospace defense, which ensures the possibility of guaranteed impact on all elements of MSU means in the interests of preventing or repelling it."

According to him, for this purpose, the missile defense system is being created echeloned: on the basis of long-range anti-missile systems, anti-aircraft missile system air defense-missile defense and modernized anti-missile systems for short-range interception. It is assumed that by 2020 the modernization of the A-135 missile defense system of the city of Moscow and the Central Industrial Region will be completed, and by 2025 the creation of an echeloned national missile defense system will be completed, Boev noted.

In accordance with the competencies, the main efforts of the Concern "RTI" are focused on the creation of a new generation of VZG type "Voronezh" radar, multifunctional radar measuring complexes (MRIK), as well as the modernization of the "Don-2N" radar, S. Boev said in an interview with "Parlamentskaya Gazeta" ".