Intelligence complex "Penicillin": a harsh cure for artillery. Unique “Penicillin”: Russian artillery will receive new eyes and ears Tests of a counter-battery system of a new operating principle are being completed

Original 05/13/2017, 10:00

Testing of a counter-battery system with a new operating principle is being completed

The press service of the Ruselectronics holding reported that state tests of a new automated complex are being completed in Russia artillery reconnaissance, developed within the framework of the Penicillin R&D project by the St. Petersburg Research Institute "Vector".

More precisely, there are two complexes - sound reconnaissance (1B75) and sound-thermal reconnaissance (1B76). The complexes are designed for reconnaissance of firing positions of cannon and rocket artillery, as well as anti-aircraft and tactical missiles. “The system receives and processes acoustic signals from shots (explosions) and provides information about the location of the ammunition explosion, the accuracy of the hit, and also reports the location of the guns. The time to obtain the coordinates of a single target does not exceed five seconds,” says a press release from Ruselectronics.

The depth of action of the complexes is 25 kilometers from the front line. The complexes include several sound receivers installed on the surface of the earth and an optical-electronic module operating in both the infrared and visible spectrum. The equipment is located on the chassis of a KamAZ-6350 vehicle. The optical-electronic module, equipped with six television and six thermal imaging cameras, is located on a retractable telescopic rod. The equipment of the complexes is capable of operating at any time of the day.

Research Institute "Vector" began developing the complexes in 2006. The start of testing was planned for 2013. However, due to circumstances, both objective and subjective, the deadlines have shifted by almost a year and a half. In connection with this, the Ministry of Defense sued the research institute, seeking payment of a penalty in the region of 10 million rubles. However, in March last year, the court of appeal put an end to this matter, finding that the plaintiff was fully satisfied with half of the requested amount paid by the defendant.

Preliminary tests, which took place earlier this year at the Donguz training ground in the Orenburg region, demonstrated the reliability and high efficiency of the complexes. In a TV report that was shown in March on the Zvezda channel, the developers claimed that the equipment even reacts to a door slam. The complexes have high direction finding accuracy - the error does not exceed one and a half arc minutes. The reaction time of "Penicillin" - from firing an enemy gun to receiving its coordinates - does not exceed 5 seconds. So if a self-propelled gun fired artillery installation, then it is quite possible to hit it with a return shot, since changing the shooting position for self-propelled guns takes longer.

Penicillin complexes belong to counter-battery warfare equipment. This kind military equipment uses various methods to detect artillery and missiles launchers- acoustic, visual, and radar. But at the same time, the developers of the Vector Research Institute have made a significant step forward. Head of the Mikhailovsky Military Artillery Academy, Lieutenant General Sergey Bakaneev, believes that the 1B75 and 1B76 complexes are two to two and a half times more efficient than existing models. Even under intense shelling, Penicillin is capable of finding more than 90% of enemy firing points.

The method by which they are detected and applied to electronic card firing points, requires the highest computing performance of the computer. In this case, complex algorithms are used. Something similar is used in seismic exploration of oil and gas fields.

Another significant advantage of the Penicillin complexes is the passive principle of detecting firing points. That is, unlike radar-based counter-battery systems, it does not emit radio waves through which the enemy can take direction and suppress it with artillery or missile fire, as well as with the help of attack aircraft. Penicillin is not afraid of anti-radar missiles.

Counter-battery radars have a longer history. Their development began in the mid-70s, when computers began to appear that had sufficient performance with a small volume and low power consumption, capable of being placed on a tracked or wheeled chassis.

Their principle of action is different from that used in Penicillin. The radar station tracks the flights of enemy mines, shells and missiles. Based on a fixed segment of the trajectory, the entire trajectory is determined using mathematical data processing. Moreover, its starting and ending points are calculated, that is, the location of the gun or launcher and the location of the fall of the ammunition.

Moreover, different ammunition has different trajectories. In the simplest case, this is a parabola along which artillery mines fly. Projectiles have a more complex trajectory. Rockets have their own flight characteristics. All this is taken into account in the calculations.

Different ammunition can be detected at different ranges, which is determined by their different sizes. That is, the effective scattering area of ​​the radar signal. At the maximum distance for each specific complex, you can detect heavy missiles, since the radar “sees” them better. At minimum - small caliber artillery shells.

This type of complexes is intended not only for identifying enemy firing points in order to suppress them with return fire, but also for adjusting the fire of one’s own artillery. They are assigned to artillery batteries and divisions jet systems volley fire.

The first counter-battery radar in the Soviet Union was the ARK-1 Lynx complex, developed at the Tula Research Institute Strela (now NPO Strela, part of the Almaz-Antey concern). Its serial production began in 1977 at the Tula Arsenal plant. The radar with a radiation power of 20 kW was located on a tracked chassis with a housing that provided bulletproof protection. “Lynx” managed to fight in Afghanistan, becoming a serious help for Soviet artillery.

ARK-1 detected cannon artillery firing positions at a distance of up to 9 km, mortar positions - 12 km, MLRS - 16 km. At the same time, correction of own fire was carried out at a distance of up to 11 km for cannon artillery, 14 km for mortars and 20 km for MLRS. The accuracy of determining the point of impact of the ammunition was several tens of meters.

In 1981, the Strela Research Institute began creating a more advanced complex, which was called the Zoo. On the basis of this development, a family of counter-battery complexes was created - “Zoo”, “Zoo-1”, “Zoo-2” and “Zoo-1M”. Using the experience of creating the Lynx complex and improving its parameters, the developers completed the task in 3 years. However, when the prototypes were being prepared for testing, the Ministry of Defense changed the technical requirements, introducing additional functions into them. In particular, tracking drones aircraft. As a result, the project completion date has been pushed back. The converted complex went into testing only in 1988.

The latest modification of the complex, the most advanced, 1L261 “Zoo-1M”, entered testing in 2013 and began entering service with the troops quite recently. In fact, this is a new development that uses a three-dimensional radar with a phased array antenna and a new element base that provides more accurate location of the coordinates of enemy firing points and works with a large number of trajectories per minute.

The characteristics of 1L261 are not disclosed. But it is known that the 1L219M Zoo-1 complex, which was put into service in 2008, is inferior in capabilities to the latest development of Strela. Although this modification is significantly different from the counter-battery systems of the last century. And also surpasses in capabilities American complex AN/TPQ-36. In March last year, two Zoo-1 complexes were delivered to Syria to the Khmeimim base. There was no information about their participation in hostilities.

The international military forum “Army 2018” continues. A significant part of its exhibition is occupied by artillery and missile systems. Visitors can see the latest self-propelled gun"Coalition-SV", the Iskander operational-tactical complex, the 203 mm Malka cannon and many other interesting developments. But artillery is not only what it shoots; its effective operation is impossible without high-quality target designation and reconnaissance means.

It is for this reason that at the stand of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense you can see a model of a new reconnaissance complex, which is known to the general public under the name “Penicillin”. Experts believe that its appearance can lead to the same revolution in artillery that its “namesake” once accomplished in medicine. Thanks to the complex's sensitive sensors, the military will be able to accurately determine the location of enemy batteries, while remaining invisible to the enemy. “Penicillin” will be able to detect even launchers of anti-aircraft and tactical missiles.

It is planned that next year intelligence complex will begin to enter the troops.

What is Penicillin and what is it for?

Today position detection enemy artillery produced using radar systems. A typical example of such equipment is the Zoopark-1 anti-battery radar, adopted by the Russian army in 2008. Its operating principle is quite simple: the radar detects the trajectories of projectiles or missiles, and then the computer calculates where they were launched from. The problem is that the use of radar instantly reveals the location of the station itself, making it vulnerable to enemy fire. In addition, it can be suppressed using various systems EW.

True, there are also advantages: “Zoo” is capable of not only calculating enemy batteries, but also effectively adjusting the fire of its own artillery.

The Penicillin complex works in a completely different way. Its main part is an external optical-electronic module of thermal direction-finding equipment, designed to detect radiation in the infrared and visible spectrum from the terrain and various objects. It is located on a special rod, which unfolds during combat use.

In addition, this complex includes special sound receivers that literally “listen” to the earth, like acoustics on submarines. The information received from the sensors is sent to the receiving equipment and displays the situation in real time.

"Penicillin" is capable of detecting mortar positions at distances of 10 km, the location of self-propelled guns and towed artillery - up to 18 km, rocket launchers– up to 40 km.

Up to 30 targets can be detected simultaneously. The width of the reconnaissance strip is 20-25 km. During testing, the complex showed very high accuracy, reaching one and a half arc minutes. More precise data about its characteristics are kept secret for now.

Samples of the complex shown earlier were installed on the chassis of a KamAZ-6350 truck. At the Army 2018 forum, another version was demonstrated - using an armored car

Vladimir Smirnov, Marianna Chursina

State tests of the new automated artillery reconnaissance complex 1B75 “Penicillin” have been completed. This system allows you to determine the coordinates of enemy artillery firing positions within a radius of up to 25 km in five seconds. In addition, Penicillin adjusts the firing of fire weapons of friendly forces. Delivery of the first sound-thermal systems to the troops is expected in 2020. Experts call key feature new systems are able to respond to enemy artillery fire in the shortest possible time and destroy it even before it changes its location.

• YouTube

In Russia, state tests of the latest automated artillery reconnaissance complex 1B75 “Penicillin” have been completed. Moreover, the first two samples of this equipment are planned to be delivered to the troops in 2020. RIA Novosti was informed about this by the press service of the Ruselectronics holding.

It is noted that the Penicillin sound-thermal complex is designed to detect firing positions of enemy artillery pieces, mortars, multiple launch rocket systems, as well as launch positions of enemy anti-aircraft and tactical missiles. At the same time, the system simultaneously adjusts the firing of friendly artillery.

The complex includes several sound receivers installed on the ground and an optoelectronic module. “Penicillin” receives and processes thermal imaging and acoustic signals from shots and shell explosions, providing data on the location of the ammunition explosion, the accuracy of the hit, and reports the location of enemy artillery.

A key feature of the new complex is that it determines the coordinates of a single target within a radius of up to 25 km in just five seconds.

"Penicillin" can carry out firing maintenance for both one battery and each battery of the division in turn. The installation also ensures interaction with subscribers of the automated control system at the tactical and operational levels. The radio communication range with external subscribers is up to 40 km,” Ruselectronics reported.

The optical-electronic module “Penicillin-OEM” itself, which is a complex of thermal direction-finding equipment (TPA) on a telescopic rod, includes six thermal imaging and six television cameras. All of them are placed in a single housing on a rotating and swinging base.

“The radiation that comes from objects located in the reconnaissance sector is converted by optical-electronic units of the product ... into electrical signals and transmitted to the equipment for receiving and displaying the ROV in real time,” notes the documents for the development of the module.

For the first time about the existence of an automated sound-thermal reconnaissance complex AZTK 1B75 “Penicillin” general public became known in March 2017. By this time, testing of a prototype had started at the Donguz test site in the Orenburg region.

It was reported that the complex is intended to replace the traditional principle of adjusting fire with the help of scouts who work on the front line at the risk of their lives.

“In contrast, Penicillin can operate at a safe distance from the enemy without operator participation in a fully automated mode, which minimizes the influence of the human factor,” Ruselectronics said.

In addition, existing artillery reconnaissance systems are vulnerable to electronic warfare enemy and anti-radar weapons. In turn, AZTK 1B75 performs tasks without unmasking itself by external radiation.

“Artillery remains one of the important factors on the battlefield”

Earlier, the American analytical publication National Interest published a material entitled “Perhaps Russia has a new means of destroying (American. - RT) heavy artillery". It was about the new artillery reconnaissance complex presented at the Army 2018 exhibition.

It is noted that Western radar systems - the American Hughes AN/TSQ-51 and the Scandinavian ARTHUR - due to their characteristics, have difficulty detecting small projectiles and are subject to anti-radar measures. Non-detectability Russian system traditional methods, writes NI.

Currently, the main artillery weapons in service with the US Army are the M109 155 mm self-propelled artillery mount, the M119 (105 mm) and M777 (155 mm) towed howitzers, as well as several types of mortars and MLRS (HIMARS and MLRS). The firing range of most of them with conventional shells does not exceed 25 km.

According to corresponding member Russian Academy rocket and artillery sciences Konstantin Sivkov, the main advantage of the Penicillin complex is the presence of a thermal optoelectronic channel, which allows you to react to enemy artillery fire in the shortest possible time and deliver a counter-battery strike even before it has time to change location.

“According to open data, the range of the complex is 25 km, that is, within the tactical defense zone. Accordingly, light field artillery and mortars will mainly work against such targets,” the expert told RT.

In turn, the military observer “ Komsomolskaya Pravda“Retired Colonel Viktor Baranets noted that foreign experts rightly drew attention to the fact that the Russian complex will very seriously influence the effectiveness of artillery combat.

“That’s why they called the Penicillin complex the killer of American artillery. All armies of the world have artillery pieces of different calibers and different ranges, and artillery remains one of important factors on the battlefield,” said RT’s interlocutor. “It is very important to have the exact coordinates of the location of a particular weapon, because the weapon fires several shots and immediately changes position. And if technology does not allow one to instantly detect his position, it means that the enemy will simply shift this position, and the shells will arrive, essentially, to nothing.”

The expert noted that the AZTK 1B75 makes it possible to determine the firing point with maximum accuracy in a matter of seconds and cover it with return fire: “This is one of the elements of the new warfare, where the speed of response to enemy fire is reduced to a minimum.”

• British 155 mm howitzer M777 and American self-propelled gun M109 (155 mm)
• Reuters

According to Barants, foreign experts pay attention to the fact that high performance characteristics complex were achieved through the use of the latest technologies, which so far are available only to the Russian defense industry.

“We need to talk about something else: that in this complex there is not a single bolt or board that we would purchase abroad. Everything in this complex is Russian, from the most basic equipment to complex ones. electronic systems. Possessing such a complex, the Russian army receives very serious anti-artillery “ears and eyes,” which is extremely important when conducting modern combat operations, where time becomes a very serious factor,” the expert added.

“The speed of reaction to enemy fire also becomes an additional weapon of our army,” he emphasized.

“I would like to congratulate our designers, scientists, technologists, and engineers who came up with and completed this complex. We will wait for its mass entry into the Russian army,” concluded Baranets.

For efficient work artillery needs various means intelligence. With their help, it is necessary to monitor the results of shooting, as well as determine the location of enemy batteries. Nowadays, to solve such problems, specialized radar stations, capable of tracking the flight and impact of shells or missiles. In the near future, reconnaissance artillerymen will have to begin operating a new reconnaissance complex that uses other detection methods. Perspective automated complex 1B75 "Penicillin" is able to perform all its tasks by processing audio and visual information.

Nowadays, the main contribution to the work of artillery reconnaissance is made by specialized radar stations. They are able to track the flight of their own and enemy projectiles, determining their launch and impact points. Identifying the point of impact of your projectile allows you to adjust the aiming of the guns to successfully hit the target, and information about the launch site of the enemy is intended to organize a retaliatory strike. Reconnaissance radars cope with their tasks, but are not without shortcomings. First of all, they are susceptible negative influence electronic warfare equipment or strikes using anti-radar.

AZTK 1B75 "Penicillin" in position

In the distant past, special acoustic systems were used to find direction finding of firing positions and places where shells fell. As it turned out, the use of sound vibrations and visual information is quite capable of finding application in modern conditions. However, now we're talking about about other principles of receiving and processing data using a modern component base.

Several years ago, development work with the code “Penicillin” began in our country, the goal of which was to create a fundamentally new automated sound-thermal complex (AZTK) for artillery reconnaissance at the army level. According to the technical specifications, information about flying and falling projectiles should have been collected using seismic sensors and infrared cameras. The use of radar equipment was excluded.

The development of the Penicillin project was carried out at the Vector Research Institute (St. Petersburg), part of the Vega radio engineering concern (a division of Rostec). Other industry enterprises could be involved in the work. Serial production of products should begin in the near future; it was planned to entrust it to enterprises of the Russian Electronics holding (also part of the Rostec state corporation).

For the first time, the existence of the new AZTK 1B75 “Penicillin” was told to the general public in March 2017. By this time, the enterprises participating in the project managed to complete the development of technical documentation, and also built a prototype of the complex. Testing of equipment also began at one of the test sites. Russian ministry defense These circumstances allowed the military department not only to tell the public about the promising development, but also to show it in action. However, the bulk of the data about the new intelligence complex was not subject to disclosure.

Model of the complex at the Army 2018 exhibition

In May last year, representatives of Ruselectronics clarified information on the Penicillin project and also announced some new information. In addition, the latest and plans for the near future were published. It was reported that at that time the 1B75 product was completing state tests. In the near future, it was planned to carry out the required procedures, after which mass production could be launched. The start of assembly of serial complexes is scheduled for early 2019.

Subsequently, materials on the Penicillin AZTK project, including a model, were demonstrated at the Army exhibition. It is curious that the models shown this year were noticeably different in appearance from prototypes, which were tested and became the “main characters” of the news last spring. However, the general architecture of the complex, its functions and capabilities remain the same.

The automated complex of sound-thermal artillery reconnaissance 1B75 "Penicillin" is mobile system on self-propelled chassis, capable of monitoring the situation in a given area and identifying the operation of enemy guns or monitoring the firing accuracy of its artillery. By using fundamentally new methods of operation, the complex solves its problems without unmasking itself with any radiation. All main devices of the complex, with the exception of communications equipment, operate exclusively in receive mode.

The promising AZTK is built on the basis of an automobile chassis with relevant characteristics. Thus, the prototypes tested last year were based on the KamAZ-63501 vehicle. This year at the exhibition they showed a mock-up of a reconnaissance complex based on a different chassis. Available data suggests that Penicillin equipment can be installed on base cars of different models. Only the carrying capacity and dimensions of the loading area matter.

Optoelectronic module "Penicillin-OEM" in working position

The prototypes were built on the KamAZ-63501 chassis. It is an all-wheel drive four-axle vehicle designed for mounting various target equipment or other payloads. The machine is equipped with a 360 hp diesel engine. and is capable of carrying cargo on the frame total mass up to 16 t. Maximum speed on the highway exceeds 90 km/h, regardless of the type of payload.

In the case of “Penicillin”, a new unit is mounted on the chassis, behind the cab of the cabover configuration, which includes a support for the mast device and boxes for storing special devices. A unified van body is installed behind it, accommodating automated workstations, special equipment, etc. The chassis is also equipped with four hydraulic jacks. A pair of such devices are located next to special equipment, the other two are located at the rear of the machine.

One of the reconnaissance means is the Penicillin-OEM optical-electronic module. It is a stabilized platform with several types of cameras mounted on a lifting mast. IN existing form complex 1B75 is equipped with a lifting mast. When the complex is moved into working position, the mast rises vertically, bringing the cameras to the required height. IN stowed position the mast is laid back on the roof of the van. The platform with cameras is equipped with vertical and horizontal aiming drives, providing all-round visibility in azimuth and changing the elevation angle.

Penicillin-OEM includes six television cameras and the same number of thermal imagers. They are housed in two box-shaped housings, movably mounted on a common rotating base. Both bodies have mechanized front covers that protect the optics from damage during transportation. Television and thermal imaging cameras have a viewing angle of 70° in azimuth and 10° in elevation. The signal from all 12 devices is simultaneously sent to computers and processed together. At the same time, high quality “stitching” of individual fields of view is ensured. The cameras can operate continuously for 18 hours, after which a break of 1 hour is required.

Installation of acoustic sensors

Using the Penicillin-OEM module, the artillery reconnaissance complex must monitor a given sector and detect flashes of shots or shell explosions. By processing data from a set of cameras, automation is able to accurately determine the direction to the flash point. Calculation of data on the detected gap is carried out in real time.

The sound-thermal reconnaissance complex also has means for receiving and processing sound signals. The complex contains four devices for collecting acoustic signals, as well as equipment for processing them. The receiving device is a product with a body of a characteristic curved shape. These devices are proposed to be placed at certain positions near the complex and connected to it using cables. The main element of the receiving device is a seismic sensor, which receives ground vibrations and converts them into an electrical signal.

A shot from an artillery gun or the explosion of a shell creates a sound wave in the ground that travels over considerable distances. Penicillin's receiving devices are capable of detecting this wave, after which the automation makes the necessary calculations. The special arrangement of four seismic sensors leads to the reception of vibrations with one or another delay. The difference in the time of signal arrival makes it possible to determine the direction to the source of oscillations, as well as the distance to it. Apparently, sound reconnaissance means can be used together with optical ones, which significantly increases the speed of calculations and the accuracy of determining the coordinates of a gun or the location of a projectile impact.

According to published data, AZTK 1B75 “Penicillin” is capable of identifying firing positions or places where shells fall in an area up to 25 km wide along the front. The detection range of an enemy mortar reaches 10 km, and other types of cannon artillery – 18 km. Provides high detection accuracy: up to 1.5 arcminutes in azimuth. It takes only 5 seconds to calculate the location of the source of sound waves or infrared radiation. Regardless of the conditions and intensity of artillery work, the complex can take direction of at least 90% of explosions or shots.

Data from seismic sensors on the screen of the operator's workplace

Using standard communications equipment, Penicillin is able to interact with artillery formations. It can work in spotter mode and determine where shells fall, the data of which will allow artillerymen to correct the aiming and deliver an accurate strike. When solving counter-battery tasks, the 1B75 complex must identify enemy firing positions and issue target designation to its artillerymen for a retaliatory strike. Receiving and processing data with subsequent delivery of information to consumers requires minimal time, which increases the efficiency of artillery operations.

The most important feature of the new AZTK 1B75 “Penicillin” is the ability to work at some distance from the front line. In addition, it is distinguished by the absence of unmasking factors during operation. All main components of the complex operate only in reception mode, while in transmission mode only the radio station that provides communication operates. Thus, the enemy is not able to identify specific signs and take measures against this complex. In this regard, Penicillin has advantages over other artillery reconnaissance means that use different detection principles.

Last year it was reported that a new type of automated sound-thermal artillery reconnaissance complex was undergoing state tests and could go into production in the foreseeable future. IN Lately There has been no negative news about Penicillin, which is a reason for optimism. Apparently, the industry has successfully completed its tasks and is currently preparing production facilities for future production of equipment.

What the Ministry of Defense order for 1B75 Penicillin for the domestic ground forces will be has not yet been clarified. However, the consequences of acquiring such equipment are already clear and obvious. New capabilities will increase the potential of intelligence units and at the same time have a positive impact on capabilities missile forces and artillery. Rocketeers and artillerymen will be able to hit designated targets faster and more efficiently or protect their troops from enemy fire.

Based on materials from sites:
http://tass.ru/
http://tvzvezda.ru/
http://romz.ru/
http://vega.su/
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/
http://russianarms.ru/

Russia has completed testing of a new artillery reconnaissance complex, which may soon go on combat duty. According to American military experts, the complex poses a serious threat to NATO heavy artillery.

Shooting beyond the horizon

Enemy artillery has always been considered one of the most dangerous means of warfare, and significant forces have always been involved in the fight against it - from reconnaissance aircraft to satellites. Significant progress in this regard was achieved by the mid-70s, when the military managed to adapt small radars to detect the same small targets - mines and artillery shells. The unique system solved not only the problem of warning when the enemy began shelling positions, but was also capable of detecting a probable point from which the enemy could fire.

By the early 80s, this problem was solved at a new technological level - the American military created a relatively mobile counter-battery radar AN/TPQ-36, which made it possible to quickly determine target coordinates with high accuracy.

True, the Americans almost immediately found themselves in the position of catching up - in the USSR, back in the late 70s, the Lynx artillery reconnaissance complex, which was significantly superior to American funds intelligence on all characteristics. Main feature The complex became a chassis - the idea of ​​a towed radar was abandoned almost immediately, and a massive radar “flashlight” capable of determining the coordinates of a missile or projectile launch was placed on the chassis of an MT-LB armored personnel carrier. The Lynx complex even saw action in Afghanistan, where the concept of “early detection of fire” proved its full viability.

A speck of dust in the sky

The problem of detecting small targets, especially small-caliber artillery mines, for a long time was not solved due to the lack of a hardware-computing complex that could link together a sensitive radar and artillery crews. The very essence of the work of such a complex lies in the processing of information obtained by reflecting a conventional radio signal from shells or missiles. However, NPP Strela and the specialized design bureaus involved in the work that created the radio devices managed to create a system with a unique database capable of not only tracking the location of the start of the shelling.

By the time mass production began, the automation of the Lynx complex could not only determine the missile launch site or the position of an enemy artillery battery, but also checked the shells fired by the enemy with the database, after which it provided accurate data about the enemy.

Automation of the processes of determining and transmitting data has already been brought to the absolute level in Russia. In the late 90s - early 2000s Russian army appeared - a counter-battery complex, built according to a new architecture. In addition to the expanded database, the radar was able to track and determine even tactical missiles short range, and the positions of the launchers, thanks to new electronics, began to be determined with an accuracy of up to five meters. The complex was adopted by the Russian army in 2007 and even then attracted the attention of American specialists.

A special feature of the version of the Zoo-1M complex, presented in 2013, is an even more powerful computer that allows operators to determine the coordinates of the enemy even during massive shelling. At the same time, the “Zoo” as part of artillery batteries acts as a fire control system, which allows you to track the enemy and automatically direct your own artillery at his positions. At the same time, the main advantages of the complex were its short deployment time - only five minutes and a long operating range - up to 45 kilometers.

Military antibiotic

The newest Russian sound-thermal artillery reconnaissance system 1B75 “Penicillin” - the latest remedy to combat any “shooting” enemy equipment at long distances. In case of the newest complex There is also a revised approach to the creation of such systems - in addition to radar, target detection is carried out by optical, sound and even seismic situation monitoring stations. The automation of the complex is configured in such a way that it takes only 5 seconds to determine the coordinates of the source of fire, after which the data is entered into an electronic map and after another 20 seconds a rocket or artillery shell is sent to the enemy.

The attention to Russian complexes from the American military in this regard is quite understandable - only in Russia there is a fully automated, highly secure target recognition system that can work “at the front end” without additional help.

Photo: © Still from Youtube/RussianArms video

The American approach to the creation of such complexes has not changed for more than 30 years, and such carelessness has begun to bear the first “fruits”. True, it was not the American, but the Ukrainian military that suffered from this, who received the AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder counter-battery stations as part of military assistance from the United States. The Armed Forces of Ukraine never learned to work effectively with these complexes, and the AN-TPQ-48 portable stations for detecting artillery and mortars were completely captured by the DPR militia in Debaltsevo.

Wherein ground troops The RF Armed Forces continue to move towards automation of all detection and response processes - in addition to the Zoo-1M and Penicillin complexes, the Russian military has Podlet-K1 complexes capable of detecting even unobtrusive cruise missiles. The military themselves note that such an arsenal allows them to respond to threats of any type at any time of the day.