http://www.hudi2.republika.pl/Kolczuga.htm

תורגם ע"י GOOGLE מפולנית:

The complex passive radio-diagnosis

Kolchuga



Tomasz Szulc



Well before the interview provided information about conducted in the United States work on aircraft with a reduced radar detection, the Soviet Union worked on ways to detect enemy planes without the aid of radar stations. The roots of methods to detect aircraft nieradiolokacyjnych lie deep in the past. Soon after the wider spread of the aviation in many countries constructed acoustic direction finding, aiming from a distance to detect the noise of aircraft engines. On the other hand, in the late 30s of last century, and so when we have in the armies of the world the first radar, there were devices designed for their location based on emitted by electromagnetic waves.

In the 40 twentieth century radars they seemed to be the ideal means to detect airborne targets, but still significant resources spent on the search for other methods to detect enemy planes. It was particularly noticeable in the USSR, where after the war uzmysłowiono of the fact the weakness of its air defense aviation and the need to support him strong anti-air defense troops and territory. Therefore, they perfected for example. Captured on Germany termopelengatory, also developed systems ranger - the tracking radio, working on board enemy aircraft. In the latter method employs a triangulation that is a precise comparison of the tracking signal by two (or more) pelengatory. If the position of receivers is sufficiently well defined, it is with considerable accuracy can be determined at what point vectors intersect the direction of the transmitter. It worked this way effectively track down ground-source electromagnetic radiation, but similar efficiency against the aircraft was not achieved, even by virtue of their rapid movement, change the amount and the irregular nature of radio emission, which they were not able to meet the then still very primitive device rejestrująco- analyze.

New opportunities created proliferation of airborne radar, used for navigation and targeting. Emission of microwave radiation potrafiono record already in the 40s, when the first aircraft and naval stations warning. Enough to combine the concept of triangulation and accordingly improved microwave radiation detectors to obtain a device capable of determining the position of the radar operating in space.

So far, no published information on the first such devices developed in the USSR, but much more is known about such an apparatus, constructed and manufactured in Czechoslovakia. Passive means of locating sources of electromagnetic radiation patented there in the late 50s Eng. Vlastimil Pech, and its essence was to use methods chronometryczno-hyperbolic evaluate the differences in time to reach the three receivers the signal from the transmitter (temporary differences in reaching out to each of the pulse derived from the localized transmitter define clearly hyperbolic curve at the intersection where the source of emissions ). It was in a sense the inverse operation of radio navigation systems (eg. LORAN), where the receiver is on board and converts the signals of several terrestrial transmitters. The problem was the timely processing of the data obtained. However, when the computing apparatus constructed, which blocks contain several hundred vacuum tubes, you could create the first field device to the location radiolokatorów. It received nazwęPRP-1 dig (abbreviated PRP - Presnya radio1okacni Patrac, after Polish "precision radar searchlight," and dig it korelacni Patrac, the "searchlight correlation") and were introduced into service in the early 60s consisted of three Car receivers and vehicle computing apparatus and showing the tactical situation. This enabled measuring the time differences in signal reception with an accuracy of 100 nanoseconds! After Kopacu appeared more perfect Ramona, and in the 80s - fitted in as far as modern computers - Tamara (and electronic components produced apparently no longer exist for her Wroclaw ELWRO). Ramona allowed to simultaneously track 20 aircraft, Tamara already 72, and the analysis of the received signals gave a chance to recognize the type of device, and thus determine more or less likely, what type of aircraft is observed. There are no data on the actual accuracy and reliability of Czech devices of this type, but it is known that approx. 50 sets delivered to member countries of the Warsaw Pact, including Polish.

Presumably, the dig and Ramona found their way to the USSR, even in order to compare with their own constructions. And these were not only produced, but also exported also to Polish, where he wore the code of the Mark. These were the "machine" quite big - each receiver consisted of the car ZIL-157 van, a trailer with a sofa antenna and the electro-AD-10T / 230 three-axle Krazie-214. In addition to three such teams in the system consisted of communications and position data with its own power source. According to available information in Poland operated at least one such device which was subject to systematic upgrades. In a variant of Mark-2MP from the late 80s we were able to track down radars operating in the frequency range from 7.5 cm upwards, including radar plot system. Patriot.

In the 80s miniaturization of electronic components in the USSR has made progress and managed to reduce the number of vehicles forming a team. The antenna mounted on the roof of the van, which towed a trailer with a generator.

The next stage of modernization was to install additional pairs of parabolic antennas and two dipole antennas, receiving signals with the lowest frequency. The main antenna receiving a very large volume enabled the reception of weak or very distant signals and spatial narrowing of the scope of the search, which has increased the range of the station. This meant in practice that it was possible to work in two modes: long range with a narrow field of view and close range over a wide field. This station was called Kolchuga and reportedly taken to equip the Soviet Army in 1989. Recently it revealed that the complexes of this type were exported back to the time of the USSR, but the information has not been officially confirmed nor even indirectly.

When, in 1991. Soviet Union collapsed, the Topaz plant, producing Kolchuga, located in Donetsk onto the territory of Ukraine. Their production is almost immediately suspended from a lack of orders and components, supplied among others Russia and Moldova. In cooperation with the Institute of Comprehensive Automation taken while work on the modernization of Kolchuga, designed to increase the reliability and precision. Among other things, it lists dozens of amplifier modules for new, low-noise type ELU-0105, 0720, 1540, manufactured by ELSIS Poltava, allowing increased sensitivity and precision measurements. It uses the electronic components purchased on the commercial market (eg. Samsung monitors) and standard software (Windows environment). Abandoned simultaneously with the existing car carrier Ural-4320 for the Ukrainian KrAZ-260. A vehicle with a much higher capacity (9 tons compared with 6 tons of Ural) was used probably out of necessity, Ukraine produced not just a more appropriate trucks. However, this created the opportunity to install additional equipment on the vehicle. So improved apparatus was called Kolchuga-M and was in 1998. Offered for export.

A little later a similar, but more modern device presented Russia. It is the work of the institute Specradio of Belgorod, and production took Mechanical Plant in Ulianowsku. Carries the designation 85W6-A Orion has a smaller module antennas (antenna range of 2-18 GHz, rotary and dipole - the range of 0.2-2.0 GHz - still), carried on a large amount of the similarity solutions, Czech Republic. Three Oriony the command post form a complex Vega, functionally similar to the Kolchuga. Czechs do not fall asleep also grow under their feet. First constructed passive air traffic control equipment for civil and military use - it is called Vera. The latest product heirs of Tesla Pardubice - Company ERA is a multifunctional complex BORAP - smaller, lighter and more accurate than all previous ones.

Last greatest popularity in the world has gained the Ukrainian Kolchuga (with the letter "M" in the meantime abandoned). Apparently the company Ukrspeceksport was ready to sell it to interested countries in the Third World for relatively little money (approx. 25 million for the complex). The recipients were to be Jordan, Syria, Ethiopia and Pakistan, and perhaps also under embargo of Iraq. Orientation exports to the Middle East is unquestionable, only one coat of mail abroad presented at the fair SOFEX'2000 in Amman, capital of Jordan. The Ukrainian authorities claim that has produced four complexes, of which 3 are in Ethiopia (sold with the help of Jordanian and may also ... Israeli agent - LR), and one remains in Ukraine. Recently the Ethiopian authorities officially confirmed that they have three chainmail. Meanwhile, the US government said that chain mail came into the possession of Iraq, which is a huge threat to the US air force, patrolling the no-fly zone over Iraq and performing reconnaissance flights over the entire territory of the country. Interestingly, even in late 1997. US media clamor initiated by allegedly concluded between the Czech Republic and the Iraq contract for the purchase of five complexes Tamara (75 mln. USD). It is worth analyzing what opportunities are Kolchuga and why so worried today the only superpower.

Chainmail is called by the manufacturer "passive monitoring station radio-electronic environment." In fact, it is a complex passive detection and analysis of pulse and continuous signals coming from sources of microwave radiation emitted in the range of 0,1-18 GHz. You can identify virtually all known means of radio engineering, operating in the meter, decymetrowym, centimeter and placed on aircraft, vehicles and ships. They may be radiolokatory navigation, target detection, control system components weapons, IFF interrogators, air traffic control systems and automated navigation systems. In terms of frequency are analyzed aeronautical communications channels, satellite, radio-line and data transmission (ie. Datalink). Reception apparatus consists of four teams antenna with narrow and wide angle reception. There are three antennas with parabolic reflectors (including twin, coupled phase for amplification), two dipolar type of log-periodic and one in rectangular shield dielectric. The main antenna is a large parabolic reflector record and the band its antennas can be probably synchronously switched, which can be used to change the angle of elevation of received pulses. Dipole antennas are the pictures chain mail placed in different places and at different angles to the surface of the earth, which proves relentless attempts to improve their effectiveness. Generally, however, dominates the horizontal position (in horizontal polarization signal antenna gain can be greater by up to 20 d B and much easier to accurately locate the source of the signal). All the sets of antennas are mounted on a common turntable, so that the station can detect objects in a 360 ° horizontal (vertical range is not disclosed). Antennas are automatically assembled on the roof of the van in which there is a set of parallel receiver devices, enabling rapid detection and analysis of signals throughout the frequency range and position of the operator. Closed body is hermetic, with heating, air conditioning and apparatus for filtering. Support position has to count 7 people, including 3 operators working to change at one position.

A single station is able to detect the radiation source, to determine its azimuth and analyze the signal whose 40 characteristics are compared with a library containing 1000 cataloged sources. This results in at least 90% certainty the correct identification signal emitting device. The equipment is extremely sensitive, it can detect weak signals from background levels up to 145 dB / W of dynamic span of up to 60 dB. Acousto-optical, digitally-controlled receiver for detailed analysis allows the use of filtration 0.5-50 MHz. Each station has its own GPS receiver for precise topodowiązania, collected information may transfer by wire, radio or radio-line. Some sources say that it has also IFF interrogator system, but its use niweczyłoby the greatest advantage of the station - its completely passive, and therefore impossible to detect by enemy action. The manufacturer claims that the station is fully autonomous, ie it has built-in power supply 8 kW. During the fair, SOFEX was given, however, that the diesel generator set power of 16 kW is installed on the trailer, serving also to transport over long distances dismantled antennas.

The full capacity of the complex is achieved by coupling together the three positions of the antenna and a central processing information. The position of the antenna are placed at a distance of 60 km from each other (facing the probable direction of the appearance of the enemy) and are in such a system able to control the strip width of 1000 km. The use of triangulation method allows not only detection and identification of sources of emissions, but also their very precise location - defines the coordinates with an accuracy of not less than 1% of reading. Despite repeated descriptions Kolchuga information for use in the method of triangulation methods chronometryczno-hyperbolic and combined (manufacturer never clarified) can not be ruled out that it is actually applied only the simplest and least accurate method of triangulation. In favor of such a possibility can speak the required positions receiving significant distance from each other, twice higher than in eg. In the case of Czech and Russian units on an electronic map of land the complex can visualize simultaneously up to 30 routes the purpose of moving and keep track of it in automatic or manual mode.

The maximum range of the station, amounting to 600 km can be mainly used to detect air targets, flying at high altitudes. The manufacturer says here that after using even newer amplifiers niskoszumowychELU-4080, 80120 and 120180 maximum detection range of targets at very high altitudes (eg. Reconnaissance aircraft grade U-2 or M-55) will increase to 800 km.

Regardless of the manufacturer's suggestions, full-time complex includes a relatively large vehicles. There are three stations with antenna units (trailers?), Position data processing apparatus and vehicles of communication (when it is most efficient radio-line connectivity must be 6 vehicles with trailers). Further increasing the effectiveness of the complex can be achieved, including in him the station reconnaissance, working at lower frequencies. This could be the Russian stations KR-kW (range 1.5-30 MHz) and 85W6- In (range 30 -1700 MHz) or Ukrainian Liman (225-400 MHz and 9,601,215). Interestingly, the latest version of the station 85W6-in has an additional suffix 3D also uses the triangulation method for the precise location of emission sources. All these stations are manufactured by the same factories that produce chain mail and Orion, also engaged in the production of complex warfare. Disclosed has a whole series of disturbing stations that can operate on the basis of the information provided with the Rangers (eg. SPN-2, SPN-3, SPN-4, SPN-30, lŁ234, 241 et al.).

Indisputable advantage is Kolchuga passive activity without disclosing their activity emission of microwave radiation. This allows - at least in theory - to detect and track airborne targets to be warned of detected only after the radar means guiding the weapon (if you fight them they will set antiaircraft guided by systems optronic, this goal at all will not have time to take defensive action ). By means of the complex it is also possible to detect aircraft with a reduced radar signature. This is obvious in the case of the use of any device by radar. Perhaps it is also possible to locate the emissions directional communication equipment (satellite and data link). Difficult to confirm and rather not seem realistic suggestions that could record through chain mail so weak electromagnetic radiation source, such as electrical equipment onboard aircraft. But even without this possibility they are quite complex.

Passive radio ranger is not a wonder weapon - absolutely effective and invincible. Like all devices, provided with extensive sets of antennas, it is difficult to hide and susceptible to damage. In a situation where a significant part of the aircraft impact has optronicznymi target detection devices and precision air-to-ground weapons, the destruction of antenna stations Kolchuga should not present difficulties. And just to destroy one of the three to complex lost its precision.

With some simplification can be assumed that the use of Kolchuga expanded significantly increase efficiency defense structure, without Kolchuga means little. This can be very useful to disclose individual reconnaissance aircraft, it is difficult detectable to radar and to warn of the approach of the first wave of enemy attack aircraft without notice of the latter that have already been detected. At the World market, however, are not only available Kolchuga, but the apparatus Czech and Russian, except for some older devices available for purchase "second-hand" - not from the manufacturer, but from the current user. The possible their presence in Iraq is more a political problem than a technical-military. Even with chainmail Iraqi anti-aircraft defense, decimated in 1991, and already at that time not very modern, not being able to threaten Allied aviation. Regardless of any violation of the UN embargo on supplies of arms to any country is worthy of condemnation. In this particular case, it seems, however, that the case is excessively amplified by the American administration, which, perhaps, is to serve not only the isolation of Hussein's regime.