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Pawn Shop

The Pawn Shop command system was frequently cited in Western literature in the same breath as the Flat Twin radar. Strangely, while Flat Twin is very well attested in the Russian literature, Pawn Shop barely warrants a mention, or even a special designation, much less a photograph, and there is more than a little bit of trouble teasing out just what functions this van performed.

PAWN SHOP was apparently the command transmitters, with a separate transmitter dish for each interceptor. The coordinates of the PR are determined by the signal of the respondent, the transfer of guidance commands and other commands is carried out via the channel of the command station PAWN SHOP (car van, three antenna posts, one per anti-missile control channel).

This system is apparently a component of the ABM-2/S-225 "mobile / transportable" anti-missile and anti-aircraft system developed by Chief Designer A. Raspletin of TSKB Almaz between 1965 and 1978. The S-225 included a phased array radar for target tracking and interceptor guidance, a station for transmission of commands, anti-missile interceptors with nuclear warheads, and the command homing posts 5YA26 (designed by the OKB Novator) and 5YA27 (designed by the Fakel).

While developing the system design, Kisunko decided to place all three RTNs on the test site so that they would "see" the target very well. But it turned out that in doing so they could not "see" a significant section of the trajectory of the missile's flight, and the system needed a separate station. It was called the RSVPR - radar sighting station for the anti-missile. In addition, the system needed a command station for the transfer of the launched anti-missile system aboard. It was called the command station. The SEC chief designer decided to develop the forces of its SKB-30, and the RSVPR commissioned NII-20 of the Ministry of Defense , who moved in 1950 from Moscow to Kuntsevo . The head of the laboratory of the Institute was appointed chief designer of the RSVPR Samuil Pavlovich Rabinovich.

The terms of Reference for the RSVPR was prepared in SKB-30 and in 1956 was given a NII-20. The staff of Rabinovich was young. The task was difficult. The RVPRS should ensure automatic capture of the launched interceptor missile in the initial segment of the flight throughout the entire range of possible deviations from the nominal trajectory and automatic tracking in the corners and range in the entire upper hemisphere, transfer onboard the control commands generated by the command station, operate in a combat cycle in an automatic mode without the participation of operators.

The station was stationary, two sets of equipment (including the "hot" reserve) were intended for placement in a protected underground bunker. The aerial-filer system of the RSVPR included: a capture antenna with a diameter of 0.9 meters, an accurate tracking antenna with a diameter of 2.5 meters, and an antenna for compensating for corner interference with a diameter of 2 meters. 5 meters and the antenna of the control command station on the side of the anti-missile, combined with the antenna of the compensation channel, all antennas were placed on a single column. The equipment used analog and discrete circuits, the use of transistors was minimal. The main factory for manufacturing, assembling and setting up the RSVPR at the testing site was one of the Tula plants. In March 1959, the RSVPR was dismantled from the factory stand and sent to the Balkhash test site.