9S18 "Kupol" TUBE ARM

The 9S18 "Dome" ( "Tube Arm" - according to NATO classification ) - the Soviet and Russian station detection and target designation of the 9K37 Buk air defense missile system. The 9S18 "Kupol" Station detection and target designation (SOC) was developed at the Research Institute of Measuring Instruments (NIIIP) MCI under the guidance of chief designer AP Vetoshko (then - Yu.P. Schekotova). The 9S18 "Dome" is a three-coordinate coherent pulse-pulse detection and targeting station for transmitting information about the air situation to the command post 9S470 SPK 9K37 "Buk". The station operates in the centimeter range of radio waves.

It uses two types of scanning: electronic and mechanical. Electronic scanning is performed by a beam at an elevation angle of 30°, 40° and 55°. Mechanical scanning is performed by rotating the antenna in azimuth. The antenna rotates by means of a hydraulic drive, the electric drive was used as an auxiliary one . The SOC 9S18 is capable of detecting and identifying air objects at a distance of 110–120 km, the detection range of low-flying targets (up to 30 m) is up to 45 km. Depending on the installed sector of the survey and the presence of interference, the rate of the station’s survey is: for a sector review of 30 ° - 2.5 ..4.5 s, for a circular one - 4.5..18 s. In one review period, the 9C18 transmits up to 75 tags via a telecode line to KP 9S470.

The 9S18M1-3 three-coordinate coherent pulse station operating in the centimeter range of radio waves has two types of scanning: electronic and mechanical. Electronic scanning is performed by a beam at an angle of 40° and 55°. Mechanical scanning is performed by rotating the antenna in azimuth. Antenna rotates with the help of an electric drive. SOC 9S18M1-3 capable of detecting and identifying air objects at a distance of 140-150 km. Depending on the established sector of the survey and the presence of interference, the rate of the station’s survey is: for a sector survey of 30° - 2.5 s, for a circular sector - 4.5 s. For one review period, 9S18 transmits up to 120 targets.