Podlet 1K (2015)
Russian Federation: c150 system built from 2015
The Podlet-1K Radar, also known as the 48Ya6-K1 system, is an advanced Russian air defense radar designed to be either fixed, or in that case, mobile on a Kamaz 6350 truck. It was developed by Almaz-Antey for the Russian Air Force, providing a radar support for the S-300 and S-400 SAM systems. It was deployed Syria and also in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine with at least two destroyed by Ukrainian forces. One was captured by Syrian rebels in December 2024 as well.
Development
This radar system was developed by the Almaz-Antey Air Defense in a proactive way (private funding) to answer the need for the Russian Air Force Land Defence system. It was designed to provide target designation for the S-300, S-400, and similar air defense systems that were in the works in the 1990s to replace legacy Soviet SAM systems. The details of the R&D process and dates are classified and hard to find. But the Podlet 1K was was on the work by 2009, when the company was already developing a prototype of the radar. State testing started in 2010. After acceptance, the first deliveries of the Podlet-K1 radar to the Russian Air Defense Forces started in 2015.
Radar System Design
The 48Ya6-K1 "Podlet-K1" radar was designed as a S-band and electronically tilted three-dimensional radar, with elevation and traverse to scan at 360° and particularly effective against low-flying targets like helicopters (and drones today). The core of the system is a phased array antenna, the large upper one is used for target acquisition and tracking. The two lower and diametrically opposed antennas are secondary radars: The narrower one is for the SIF Mark XII, IFF interrogation, and the larger at the rear is is the same but for Russian national identification systems. Smaller antennas near the phased array main antenna, as well as above it are used for countermeasure against active jamming.
This universal mobile solid-state three-dimensional phased array radar provides all-round coverage and detection of air targets at low and extremely low altitudes, in a modern, complex jamming environment.
It was designed to detect both aerodynamic and ballistic objects at low altitudes and to provide target designation for S-300 and then S-400 missile units to engage low-altitude attacks. The solid-state 3D phased-array radar with its 360-degree S-band coverage for target detection and tracking at low and extremely low altitudes, in natural and cluttered environments provided indeed a true tecnhnological gap compared to legacy systems. The detection process comprises the following stages:
- automatic detection
- coordinate determination
- acquisition, and tracking of any airborne targets (inc. low-observable ones)
- identification of nationality;
- provision of target information to external users, S-300/400 control systems and others.
The radar has several combat alert modes:
-Low-altitude detection mode (primary) providing track/coordinate data on targets at low altitudes.
-High-altitude detection mode (combat mode) coordinates of targets operating at low, medium, and high altitudes.
-Long-range detection mode: Same on targets operating at long ranges in a simple jamming environment.
-Mountain mode: Same for targets operating at low and extremely low altitudes in mountainous (clutterred) positions.
The Truck: KamAZ-6350 8×8
The Podlet K1 is the name for the radar system carried by a KamAZ-6350 8×8 truck chassis. The latter had a simple 1+ 1/2-seat COE cab forward (tilting to access the engine) with air conditioning. The driver is seconded by an operator that deploys the radar, after the legs are deployed at the four angles of the chassis to stabilize it especially if the wind reached gale forces since the tall antenna when deployed acts as a sail. It takes 20 minutes to setup and the same before hitting the road again. The flatbed comprised the Antenna post, the two-operator Control canopy and an electric generator.
The base Tactical truck has a weight of 12.4 t empty (no flatbed load) but up to 22.6 t max load in working order, for a length of 9.83 m, a width of 2.55 m and an height of 3.1 m up to the cab roof, but 12 meters tall with the radar fully deployed. The 8x8 had a steering only on the front two axles, a tread of 2.05 m with optional central inflation system, a wheelbase of 1.94 + 3.34 + 1.32 m. It is powered by the KaMAZ-740.50-360 11.8 liter V8 diesel rated for 360 hp at 2.200 rpm for a torque of 1.470 Nm at 1.400 rpm for a Power to weight ratio of 29.0 hp/t empty and 15.9 hp/t under max load. It is coupld with a transmission ZF 16 S1820, manual, 6 forward, 1 reverse.
The Fuel tank is 375 L for a top speed of 95 km/h on road. It is rated for a range of 1.000 km on road and a turn radius of 13.9 m. It is capable of a ground clearance of 0.39 m. It could climb a wall of 0.6 m, gap a trench of 1.4 m and a gradient
of 31°, side slope at 20°, and ford without preparation 1.75 m of water deep. The vehicle is unprotected but would receive an optional add-on armor on the cab, optional NBC system. No smoke system, night vision but a Radio. The standard flatbed is 6.65 m long and 2.47 m wide.
System Performances
The Podlet K1 is able to simultaneously detected 200 targets at a range between 10 and 200 km or 300 km in the long range additional mode, with a maximum detection altitude of 10 km and a detection zone with an azimuth of 360 degrees, an elevation from -2 to +25 degrees (-7 to +12 degrees in additional mode). It can track targets at up to 4,400 km/h with a target coordinate measurement accuracy of 200 m at an azimuth of 1.6 degrees. The system has a surveillance period between 5 and 10 seconds with a reflection suppression coefficient of 50 dB.
⚙ Kamaz 6350 8x8 specifications |
| Weight | 12.4 t empty. 22.6 t max load |
| Dimensions | 9.83 x 2.55 x 3.1 m to cab roof |
| Propulsion | KaMAZ-740.50-360. 11.8 liter V8 diesel |
| Chassis | 8x8. Steering. Front two axles. |
| Speed | 95 km/h on road. |
| Range | 1.000 km on road. |
| Armament | |
| Protection | Optional armored cab. |
| Crew | 1 + 2 in cab |
Deployment
At the ARMY 2019 International Military-Technical Forum, the Russian Ministry of Defense unveiled the Podlet-K1. It was demonstrated at two sites, one with an S-400 air defense missile system and in conjinction with the Pantsir-S air defense system when displayed at the "Khmeimim Airfield in Syria" exhibit deployed at the Syrian airfield in the hope of attracting orders from the regime. Another vehicle was displayed at the ARMY 2019 Forum. The Podlet-K1 is said to have a reliability of 1000 h without any maintenance, in constant operation, before a probable first issue.
In addition, the Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Joint-Stock Company combined effort with the "All-Russian Research Institute of Radio Engineering" which was the initial radar developer to present an export version called the Podlet-E, feating an automated 3D low-altitude radar station, with a fully automated and non-automated option for air defence. It is said able to detect targets using Stealth technology, in a forested, moderately rugged terrain as well under the influence of intense active, passive and combined interference and fire suppression.
In Ukraine it was deployed with a newly developed UAV mode. The Mean time between failures of constant operating hours was revised down to 700 Mean time to restore, and maximum power consumption was setup at 28 Kw max. As said above it was deployed in Syria during the Civil war and in the late phase seeing the fall of Bassar el Assad regime, in 2024, one was captured by the rebels (and likely examined by NATO experts and CIA). Two were destroyed in Ukraine as well.
Read More/Src
radartutorial.eu
bastion-karpenko.ru
twz.com
rusi.org
militaryrussia.ru
bastion-opk.ru
bastion-karpenko.ru
foto-i-mir.ru
/dfnc.ru
ru.wikipedia.org
yahoo.com/news/russia-advanced