P-19

Antenna vehicle of the P-19 with unfolded antenna

The P-19 ( Russian П-19 Дунай , German P-19 Donau ) is in the Soviet Union developed 2D - radar apparatus . The system introduced in 1974 in the armament of the Soviet Army is used for the reconnaissance of low-flying air targets and for target assignment. The factory designation is 1РЛ134 (transcription: 1RL134). The NVA also referred to the system as Rundblickstation 19 , or RBS-19 for short . The NATO reporting name is Flat Face B .

development

The P-19 was developed as a further development of the P-15 . The version P-15MN (Russian: П-15МН) developed in the early 1970s was characterized by improved interference protection options while retaining the basic design. The devices of the friend-foe identification system Kremnij 2 were integrated into the system. A new generation of electronic components was also used. The control unit with the electronic equipment was separated from the antenna part and placed on its own carrier vehicle. The ZIL-131 A truck introduced in the late 1960s was used as the carrier vehicle . Since the structure and technical data differed significantly from the predecessor, the system was given the new designation П-19 Дунай or 1РЛ134.

construction

Construction of the radar station

The system consists of

the equipment vehicle in the case K4.131 on ZIL-131
the aerial vehicle on ZIL-131
the identification device NRS-15
the system for electronic data transmission ASPD-U
two electrical units AB-16-T / 230 / Tsch-400 (or AB-16-T / 230 / Tsch-400M1 , from 1987 AB-16-T / 230P-RM1 )
Accessories and spare parts

The components of the system enabled largely autonomous use as well as testing, maintenance and repair under field-like conditions.

Basic interaction of the elements of the weapon system

Antenna vehicle with antennas in a marching position

The antenna system was loaded onto the antenna vehicle, as were the two electrical units required to power the system. The equipment vehicle accommodated the main electronic components of the system in the case. The workplaces of the soldiers used to operate the system were also located here. The antenna and equipment vehicle were wired together after the station was set up. A maximum of 20 minutes was required to set up the system, plus another 3.5 minutes to switch on the system. This time was due to the need to preheat the electronic assemblies.

Recognized air targets were displayed on a panoramic device. The system could also be operated from outside the equipment vehicle. For this purpose, the WIKO-01 subsidiary display device was used, which could be located up to 300 m away from the radar device. Due to the principle, the height of the air target could not be determined. To determine the height, the system had to be coupled with so-called height finders such as the PRW-9 or the PRW-16 . The reconnaissance air targets were identified with the help of the integrated identification device NRS-15 . The target data were transmitted to other command and weapon systems by means of a data link . Radio sets R-123 and R-111 are used for this purpose , which enable the transmission of voice and data in the frequency range of 20–52 MHz over a distance of up to 50–60 km.

In order to increase the immunity to interference and the reconnaissance range, the P-19 was usually used with other radar stations. This was also necessary because a reconnaissance of high-flying air targets with the P-19 was not possible. The P-18 operating in the meter wave range and the P-40 were used regularly . With the help of the P-18 , above all higher-flying air targets could be cleared. The frequency range used also facilitates the reconnaissance of air targets with stealth properties. In addition, anti-radar missiles are not available for this frequency range. The reconnaissance results of the various radar devices were summarized and displayed on the viewing devices of the automated fire control complexes. In order to be able to represent the air targets clearly and with the required accuracy in the overall system, the position of the system had to be measured. The PAB-2A straightening circle included in the accessories was used for this.

The operation consists of a total of six soldiers. This makes it possible to work in shifts, as only two to three soldiers are required at the same time to operate the station. An average operating time between failures of at least 300 hours is specified for the station .

Carrier vehicle, cabin and power supply

The all-terrain truck ZIL-131 was used as the carrier vehicle. The system could be installed on roads as well as in the field. Due to the heavy structure with a high center of gravity and the sensitive electronic assemblies, however, a maximum speed of 10 km / h was not allowed to be exceeded in the field.

The aerial vehicle had a length of 7.7 m, a width of 2.6 m and a height (in a marching position) of 3.4 m. The total weight was 10.7 t.

The equipment vehicle had a length of 7.7 m with a width of 2.4 m and a height (in a marching position) of 3.4 m. The total weight was 9.5 t. The K4.131 case contained the electronic assemblies, the telecommunications equipment and the operator's workplaces. The OW-65 heating and ventilation system made it possible to supply heat and ventilate the suitcase even when the vehicle was stationary, regardless of whether the drive motor was running. To protect against radioactive, chemically and biologically (bacteriologically) contaminated outside air, the case was equipped with the FWUA-100 filter ventilation system. To do this, the case was pressurized and the air sucked in was filtered. The system could be operated while the vehicle was moving and when it was stationary, but the case had to be left to set up and dismantle the radar system.

An R-123 radio was used to manage the system, and two R-111 radio devices to transmit the target data . There was also a P-193 switchboard . It was used to connect the telephone stations of the individual parts of the weapon system (equipment trolley, antenna trolley, daughter viewing device), which could be located up to 300 m away.

An independent navigation system was not available. To determine the exact position, the position had to be measured with the aid of the alignment circle with the aid of known and measured terrain points.

The power consumption of the entire system is around 15 kW. The two AB-16-T / 230 / Tsch-400 electrical units installed on the aerial trolley provide power and provide three-phase alternating current with a mains frequency of 400 Hz and a voltage of 3 * 230 volts. Each unit can generate up to 16 kW.

Antenna system

Predecessor P-15

The basic structure of the antenna system has not changed compared to its predecessor P-15 . Two trimmed parabolic mirrors were also used here . The shape of the parabolic mirror resulted in a relatively high resolution in the horizontal plane, but only a low one in the vertical plane. These antennas were fed by two horn antennas . The feed could take place both in phase and in phase, which changed the shape of the directional diagram. The antenna system is mounted on a lattice mast, which can be folded back in a marching position. During operation, the mast rotates at 6-12 / min in the horizontal plane, in the vertical plane the antenna system cannot be swiveled, so it is not possible to determine the flight height of the aerial target. By switching the feed of the two parabolic antennas, however, an air target can be assigned to one of a total of three altitude sectors. Due to the directional characteristics of the antenna, aerial targets at an altitude of over 6 km cannot be detected.

The antenna system determines the accuracy of the determination of the side angle and the resolution . The side angle could be determined with an accuracy of 100 arc minutes to 2 °, the resolution was 8 ° to 15 °. In practice, this means that all aerial targets that were at approximately the same distance in a sector each 8 ° wide were shown on the viewing devices as one aerial target.

The antenna of the integrated identification device is on the side of the P-19 on the lower parabolic mirror.

Radar device

The radar device works in the UHF range with a transmission frequency in the range of 750 MHz. A magnetron is used in the transmitter of the radar device . The transmitter generates pulses with a length of 2.1 μs and a pulse power of 210 to 300 kW. The pulse repetition frequency is between 500 and 600 Hz. This enabled the inclined distance to the air target to be determined with an accuracy of 450 m, the resolution is also given as 450 m. In practice, this means that all aerial targets that were in the same direction in a 450 m deep section were displayed on the viewing devices as one aerial target. To protect against radar interference, the radar device can be quickly switched between four preset frequencies.

The receiver has a sensitivity of 1.65 × 10 ⁻¹⁴ W. The built-in interference protection systems enable protection against targeted active radio measurement interference, noise interference, passive radio measurement interference and asynchronous impulse interference. To protect against passive interference and fixed targets, a system for the selection of moving targets (SBZ) was available, which worked with potential storage tubes.

The air situation was shown on the round view device in the box body or on the subsidiary display device WIKO-01 . The situation was updated every five to ten seconds, depending on the speed of rotation of the antenna. The results of the identification query as well as the flight information of own aircraft when using the ground identification device NRZ-5P (1L23-6) were also displayed on the display devices . This secondary radar device of the Parol system replaced the identification device NRS-15 of the Kremnij-2 system from the mid-1980s . Compared to the predecessor, in addition to the actual identification (friend or foe) and its display on the display devices, there is also the query and display of additional information such as flight number, altitude of the aircraft above ground and the remaining fuel (in percent), if the aircraft has the corresponding system is equipped.

The radar system was able to detect aircraft at an altitude of 50 to 6000 m at a maximum distance of 180–250 km. The detection distance depends to a large extent on the radar reflecting surface , the flight altitude and, especially in the case of low-flying targets, on the terrain profile and the location of the radar device. Air targets at an altitude of 100 m can be detected up to a distance of 32 km, at an altitude of 1000 m up to a distance of 95 km. These values apply to air targets with a radar reflecting surface of 1 m², which corresponds approximately to a MiG-21 . At an altitude of 6000 m, such an aerial target can be perceived at a distance of 180 km. With a radar reflecting area of 0.1 m², which is roughly the size of cruise missiles, the reconnaissance distance is reduced to 24 or 72 km, for aerial targets with a radar reflecting area of 10 m² it increases to 39 or 105 km. Air targets at a distance of more than 300 km can no longer be displayed, this was due to the installed radar range .

The ASPD system was used for the automated transmission of the air situation information to the command post PU-12 (GRAU index: 9S486 ). This is a data link . The air situation data was encoded in the system in real time and prepared for transmission via wire, cable, radio link, troposphere and VHF connections. The system allowed both transmission and reception of the relevant data. In the command post PU-12 twelve, in the PU-12M version ninety-nine air targets can be displayed at the same time. The ASPD was first available in the P-19-4 modification .

The P-19 could also be used with the automated fire control complex 9S44 “Krab” . To do this, the P-19 was wired to the 9S416 KBU fire control cabin (Russian: кабины боевого управления) of the 9S44 complex . Several radar devices could be connected to the fire control cabin, but only the information from one radar device could be displayed on the display devices, and switching between the display of the individual connected radar systems was done manually.

Modifications

Radar station Kasta 2E

Until the collapse of the Soviet Union, the versions P-19-1 to P-19-4 were developed, which are basically the same, but differ in individual detailed solutions. The ASPD system was integrated from version P-19-4 .

Numerous modifications have been offered by various providers since 1990. The scope ranges from the replacement of individual assemblies, the installation of systems for digital signal processing and interference protection to the replacement of the carrier vehicles.

Radar station 51U6 / 39N6Ä «Kasta-2E» (Russian: 51У6 / 39Н6Э «КАСТА-2E» ) was developed from the P-19 . In addition to the carrier vehicle, the Kasta differs from the P-19 primarily in the shape of the antenna system. The signal processing is largely digital. In addition to greater tactical agility, the Kasta is said to have better tactical and technical data than the P-19 .

commitment

Operational principles

Target data for the 2K12 shown here could be determined with the P-19 .

The radar station served for the reconnaissance and target assignment of low-flying air targets. Therefore it was basically used in the command batteries of the anti-aircraft missile systems of the land forces, where it largely replaced its predecessor P-15 .

Basically, it was assumed in the Soviet Union that different radar stations would be used together, since a system that fulfills all requirements for range, accuracy, resolution, accuracy, interference immunity and tactical mobility cannot be implemented for physical reasons. The use of radar devices that work in different frequency ranges also increased the interference immunity, since a simultaneous disturbance of all frequency bands used by the opponent is unlikely. Due to the different propagation and reflection behavior of electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths, both a large reconnaissance range and a large altitude range, but also sufficient accuracy and the reconnaissance of air targets with stealth properties, could be made possible in the overall system. Last but not least, the spread over the site increased the survivability of the entire system when using anti-radar missiles. The P-19 was therefore, like all radar stations developed in the Soviet Union at that time, a radar device optimized for special requirements that was always used in conjunction with other radar stations and guidance systems. However, this concept requires the overall system to be heavily dependent on individual components. For example, if the altitude finder or other key components are destroyed or disrupted, even fully operational radars of the system are useless, since no anti-aircraft missile combat is possible without altitude information. The means of communication required to merge the individual data also make the system slower (when using cables) or more susceptible to electronic reconnaissance and interference (when using radio links).

From the beginning of the 1970s, it was used in the anti-aircraft missile regiments equipped with the 2K12 Kub and 2K11 Krug anti-aircraft missile systems. The task was the reconnaissance of the airspace, the identification of the air targets to be combated as well as the determination of the target data and their transmission to the anti-aircraft missile systems. There it was used in the command batteries together with the fire control complex 9S44 "Krab" and the radar stations P-18 and P-40 and the height finder PRW-9 and PRW-16 . With the installation of the ASPD system , the target data could also be transferred to the 9S486 control center. This meant that it was also used in the anti-aircraft missile regiments equipped with the 9K33 Osa anti-aircraft missile system. The radar station can also be used with the successors of the anti-aircraft missile systems listed above.

In armed forces based on the model of the Soviet Army, the P-19 was also used in the command batteries of the chiefs of the air defense of the tank and motorized rifle divisions. Together with other radar stations, it was used to clarify and display the air situation picture, as a rule, target data were not processed and determined here.

States of operations

The P-19 was introduced in the Soviet Army in 1974, but has since been replaced by other systems. The system was exported to numerous countries and is still partially in use there. In general, robustness, availability and high immunity to interference, as well as ease of repair, are emphasized as advantages of the system, including by the French military, who subjected a P-19, captured in 1987 in Chad, to thorough testing.

Use in the NVA

The air defense of the NVA started using the first RBS-19-1 in 1980.

The command batteries of the chiefs of the air defense of the motorized rifle and tank divisions of the land forces were equipped, each command battery received a P-19 . The command batteries of the anti-aircraft missile regiments 1, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 11 were also equipped; here, too, a P-19 was provided for each command battery .

From the mid-1980s, the NVA purchased version RBS-19-4 with the ASPD-U system . This enabled the radar station to be carried out together with the command post 9S486 in the AA rocket regiments 8 (FRR-8) and 11 (FRR-11) equipped with the 9K33 weapon system .

The conversion to the secondary radar device Patrol ( 1L23-9 ) was planned from 1989/90, but could no longer be carried out due to the changed political situation. The corresponding components of the system were returned to the Soviet Union in 1990 as so-called sensitive technology. The assemblies of the radar stations already delivered with Patrol in 1988/89 (modification 1RL134-Sch3-1 ) were also removed and returned.

The existing RBS-19s were not taken over by the Bundeswehr , but scrapped or given to museums. However, at least three radar stations were sold to Greece for a symbolic price along with the 9K33 weapon system . In Greece, the RBS-19 were no longer assigned to the regiment's command batteries , but were instead used in each of the six 9A33 anti-aircraft missile departments.

Tactical-technical data

Technical data П-19 Дунай panoramic station 19 "Flat Face B"
Frequency range	about 750 MHz
Pulse repetition time
Pulse repetition frequency	500-600
Transmission time (PW)
Reception time
Dead time
Pulse power	270 - 300 kW
Average performance
displayed distance	300 km
Distance resolution	450-2000 m
Opening angle
Hit count
Antenna round trip time