Vostok-D / Vostok-E mobile VHF radar
Created by the scientists and specialists of JSC "KB Radar" - the managing company of the Radar Systems holding company, the mobile two-coordinate solid-state radio-Vostok-D radar (in the export version - "Vostok-E") more than once became a subject for publications as in a narrow professional publications and in the press, including foreign ones. This information ranges from from business-like and unbiased to inventions and fantasies dictated by incompetence, sensation-seeking or consideration not entirely for fair competition.
At the Radar design bureau, where the leading scientists of the country and specialists in the field of radar and technical air defense systems, there was every opportunity to satisfy the request of the Ministry of Defense of one of the countries of SouthEast Asia to carry out deep modernization of the radar P-18 of Soviet production. Despite the high reliabilitys and unpretentiousness in operation, the work no longer met modern requirements. Thinking of the task at hand, evaluating the scientific groundwork and technical capabilities, the management of the enterprise came to the conclusion: it is more logical to offer a potential customer not to follow the path of modernization of outdated equipment, but to order a new radar meeting the challenges of the time, which would combine the advantages of using VHF band and high mobility.
Basing on the words of Karl Marks 'practice is the criterion of truth', the first sample of the export version of the radar had been on combat alert of the customer country for 8 years, in conditions of high temperatures and almost one hundred percent humidity, performing the tasks assigned trouble-free. Radar was technologically advanced in production (in cooperation with KB "Radar" with a number of Belarusian enterprises) and, importantly, in expensive in production. Effective technical solutions and results of the first operation of the first "southeastern" station turned out to be demanded in the formation of the terms of reference for the designa two-coordinate mobile radar of the meter range for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. Of course, fundamentally new requirements were presented to the radar. At the same time, the successful development of the export station allowed saving significant funds for the creation of "Vostok-D", which was entrusted to the Radar design bureau.
"Vostok-D" mobile solid-state digital radar at VHF wavelengths is designed to detect objects located in the area of the station, measure their range, azimuth and radial velocity, automatic tracking of target traces, automatic recognition of target class, as well as for the transmission of radar information into an integrated air defense control system. Working independently or as part of a 3-coordinate radar complex, "Vostok-D" successfully solves the problems not only with medium-range standby radars, such as P-18, but also long-range radars - P-14 "Defense", 55?6 "Sky" and others. In addition, Vostok can actually be used as a combat mode radar.
Representing one transport unit, a radar consisting of antenna-hardware machine, remote automated work place (VARM) and an autonomous diesel power plant. This station has the following advantages:- high detection range (up to 360 km), accuracy and resolution when determining coordinates (accuracy determining the range - 25 m, azimuth - 0.3 degrees, range capability - 200 m, azimuth - 5.5 degrees);- high mobility (time of collapse-deployment according to the test results - about 6–8 minutes); effective detection of small air volumes projects and objects manufactured using Stealth technology;- increased noise immunity (suppression coefficient active noise interference - more than 30 dB with a ratio of fur / noise 40 dB, passive interference - more than 50 dB, full protection immunity from all types of impulse noise);- digital formation and processing of signals, modern high-performance algorithms;- execution in automatic mode of all functions, including detection and tracking of air objects; - automatic functional control of all devices;- high radar stealth due to the use of a sounding signal with a low peak power (when conducting electronic reconnaissance against the station is detected at a distance of no more than 200 km); high degree of protection against precision weapons.
The government successfully completed tests and trial operation of "Vostok-D", then already the second modification of the radar for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus that is more perfect in comparison with the first version delivered to the customer in 2011. Significantly increased detection range of small targets and targets in active results of exploitation during first months became required in de-velopment a technical project of 2D mobile VHF radar for the Armed Forces of Belarus. Of course, fundamentally new requirements were presented to Belarusian radar. At the same time, successful develop-ment of export version of the radar allowed to save significant fundsfor development Vostok-D by KB Radar.
The radar satisfied the requirements of Belarusian troopsin high quality radar data. In the framework of Comradeship-in-Arms 2013 exercise of the Joint Air Defence System of CIS countries at Ashuluk (Russia) training ground Vostok-D was utilized as part of control system of anti-aircraft mixed brigade. During the demonstration Russian servicemen became interested in the radar. They admitted Belarusian system provide radar data of much higher quality than their ayatem. Russian servicemen applied to the command of Belarusian troops and obtained permission to use the data received from VostokD as an etalon. Our radar showed its best. During the exercise it among the first not only detected bombers of hypothetical enemy on takeoff, defined their quantity and class, but also provided information about traces of tracked aerial objects, which was assumed as one hundred percent credible. During combat firings small-sized fast moving targets, simulating contemporary air attack weapons, were detected by Vostok from the start.
The information about the launch the radar transmitted earlier than from the launch system. At the debriefing of the Comradeship-in-Arms 2013 exercise Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Yuri Zhadobin said, "It (Vostok-D radar — author´s note) shows quite good results. We don´t have capabilities to test the system in such exercise, thus now we are satisfied with the results the system shows, which are even better than we expected."
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