Russian radar can detect metal balls from 2,000km

Located in the A-135 anti-ballistic missile complex on the outskirts of Moscow, the Don-2N radar can detect targets from all directions at extreme distances.

Don-2N (NATO identifier: Pill Box) is a passive electronically scanned array array radar (PESA) that plays an important role in the "Amur" A-135 anti-ballistic defense system , which is recruited by Russia. in 1989 and went into operation in 1996, according toEnglish Russia.The radar is responsible for early detection and warning and provides ballistic missile target data so that the A-135 system can fire interceptor and protect Moscow, Russia.

This work has a pyramid-shaped pyramid, a 130m-long bottom edge, a 90-meter high edge and 33m height.Each pyramid face is equipped with an 18m diameter PESA radar operating at ultra high frequencies, allowing Don-2N to detect targets from all directions.

The PESA system allows to remove the rotating mechanism of conventional radar.Each PESA radar face will manage a separate airspace area, providing a panoramic and continuous view of the operating crew.

Don-2N is managed and controlled by the Elbrus-2 supercomputer manufactured by the Soviet Union.The administrative crew consists of 3 people, in which the command of the middle radar station has a common control mission.This radar combination can switch to automatic mode if connected to the command center and the control is disconnected.

In a joint test conducted by the US and Russia in 1994, space shuttle Discovery dropped a series of metal spheres to target Don-2N and US radar stations.The results show that this radar can accurately identify a 5cm diameter ball, slightly larger than a golf ball, from a distance of up to 2,000km.With the goal of transcontinental ballistic missiles, Don-2N has a range of about 3,700km.

The area around Don-2N station is fitted with multiple radio absorbing shields, to protect natural organisms, prevent them from being cooked by radar waves of very strong intensity.

In case of necessity, Don-2N could fire 20 different interceptor missiles.In the preemptive nuclear attack plan (SIOP) in 1998, the US military reserved 69 warheads only to destroy this radar station.Despite its ability to detect targets very far, the A-135 is gradually becoming obsolete and will soon be replaced by Russia's A-235 Nudol missile defense system that is believed to have longer range and greater accuracy. .