The Russian company NNIIRT has introduced an export version of its 1L121-E mobile 3-D air-defence radar at the Aero-India 2013 airshow in India. The 1L121-E solid-state active phased array radar that operates in the UHF band is designed to detect small air targets such as low-flying mini unmanned aerial vehicles (mini UAVs) and precision-guided munitions (PGMs). The radar is mounted on vehicular platforms and is operated by a crew of three.
The 1L121-E provides full hemispheric coverage and is designed to operate on the move or on the halt. Moving from stationary to mobile operation requires about two minutes. The array comprises 36 transmit/receive modules arranged in a phased array controlled matrix covering 60 degrees in elevation, reaching up to 90 km range with minimum distance of five kilometers. At this operating mode the radar can simultaneously track 64 targets. For full-hemispheric coverage 90 degree elevation is employed, reducing detection range to 20 km. The minimum range is set at only two kilometers, simultaneously tracking only 32 targets. When covering full-hemispheric scan the radar mechanically rotates at rates of 50 to 800 m/s.
The radar detects and classifies up to four different target types, positioning each target with an accuracy of 100 meters, with 1 degree accuracy in elevation and azimuth. It will differentiate between two targets spaced 300m apart. In addition to the detection of targets the radar also performs electronic profiling of the target, assessing signals emitted by aircraft, drones or PGMs. This input can assist in threat assessment, jammer location and identification of non-cooperating targets (IFF).
This radar was first shown during the Moscow Air Show (MAKS) exhibition in 2011. It was Developed by Nizhegorodskiy Naucsno-Issledovatelskiy Insitut Radiotekhniki (NNIIRT), the organization responsible for numerous Russian ground-based radar developments. At MAKS 2011 it was displayed on a tracked MT-LBu vehicle. Now at Aero-India it is shown on a BTR-80 wheeled platform. Similar installations were also done on GAZ-3937 Vodnik 4×4 wheeled chassis.
