Engagement and Acquisition Radars
The Tunguska/Pantsir family of the SPAAGMs has seen a range of different radar packages installed since the initial IOC in 1983. All follow the model established by the 1960s 9K33 / SA-8 Gecko, with a 360º search radar for acquisition and coarse tracking, and narrow beam precision tracking radar on the front of the system turret, used for target and missile beacon tracking.
The earliest 2K22/2S6 Tunguska variants employed a radar package, which used a 1RL144 search radar with a singly curved cylindrical parabolic section reflector, and a Cassegrain monopulse tracking antenna. This design has been designated the Hot Shot in Western literature. It was supplemented by a 1RL138 IFF interrogator. Russian references list no less than four variants of of the search radar as 1RL144 for the Tunguska, 1RL144M for the Tunguska M, and the 1RL144M-VA/VS.
The progressive iterations in the development of the Pantsir series resulted in a more complex evolution, both in the acquisition and engagement radar components for the new system.
The development of the Pantsir S/S1 saw the introduction, initially, of a search radar with a doubly curved parabolic surface and eliptical shape. This was supplanted in production variants with a VNIIRT developed phased array. The latter design has since appeared on 2K22M1 Tunguska M1 demonstrators, as well as tracked and wheeled 96K6 Pantsir S1 demonstrators and production systems.
The VNIIRT developed PESA technology acquisition radar on the Pantsir S1, the 2RL80/2RL80E, uses a mechanically rotated 1776 x 940 mm sized 760 kg passive S-band phased array. The design provides elevation coverage between 0° and 60°, range coverage between 1 and 50 km, and performs a circular scan in 2 or 4 seconds. The radar can initiate tracking in 2 seconds. Cited detection range performance for a 1 m2 target is 47 km, for a 0.1 m2 target is 26 km. Cited clutter rejection is 55 dB. Accuracy figures cited are 50 metres in range, 15 - 18 min of arc in azimuth, and 25 - 30 min of arc in elevation.
Elevation coverage is selectable in increments of 0° - 60°, 0° - 30°, 40° - 80° and 0 - 25°, and the radar can search a 360° circle at 15 or 30 RPM. Range coverage can be selected in several modes, at 1-30 km, 1-50 km, 1-25 km and 3-80 km.
Acquisition performance for various target types has also been cited, with notable inconsistencies:
- 36 km for a small fighter with a 2 m2 RCS;
- 20 km for a manoeuvring cruise missile with a 0.1 m2 RCS;
- 16 km for a glidebomb with a 0.2 m2 RCS;
- 12 km for an AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile with a 0.1 m2 RCS;
- 32 km for an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-96K6-Pantsir-2K22-Tunguska.html#mozTocId369660
