SHENCHENG
The image above depicts a Chinese over the horizon (OTH) radar facility. The facility is sited along the southeastern Chinese coastline near the city of Shencheng. Transmitter and receiver elements are clearly visible, as is the probable control station for the facility. This OTH facility is likely used in a sea surveillance capacity, and is apparently situated to observe the sea between the northern end of the island of Formosa and the island of Okinawa, assuming that the viewing angle allows for that width of coverage. Chinese sea surveillance OTH radar systems could be an integral part of the anti-ship ballistic missile system, providing rough positioning data on targets of interest during a time of conflict. Enhanced resolution, coordination with other sensors, or triangulation with other OTH radar systems could provide positioning data accurate enough to target anti-ship ballistic missiles, as these weapons are likely fitted with active or passive radar homing heads and would not necessarily need overly precise targeting data. Whether or not a Chinese OTH radar such as this possesses the resolving power needed to differentiate between returns to independently identify potential targets is not currently known, however, and it is likely that actual targeting coordinates for an anti-ship ballistic missile would come from outside sources, such as sea surveillance aircraft, RORSATs, or other technical means.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
Feel free to discuss the current Image of the Week at the IMINT & Analysis Forum Image of the Week discussion thread found here.
SOURCES
-Overhead imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth
The image above depicts a Chinese over the horizon (OTH) radar facility. The facility is sited along the southeastern Chinese coastline near the city of Shencheng. Transmitter and receiver elements are clearly visible, as is the probable control station for the facility. This OTH facility is likely used in a sea surveillance capacity, and is apparently situated to observe the sea between the northern end of the island of Formosa and the island of Okinawa, assuming that the viewing angle allows for that width of coverage. Chinese sea surveillance OTH radar systems could be an integral part of the anti-ship ballistic missile system, providing rough positioning data on targets of interest during a time of conflict. Enhanced resolution, coordination with other sensors, or triangulation with other OTH radar systems could provide positioning data accurate enough to target anti-ship ballistic missiles, as these weapons are likely fitted with active or passive radar homing heads and would not necessarily need overly precise targeting data. Whether or not a Chinese OTH radar such as this possesses the resolving power needed to differentiate between returns to independently identify potential targets is not currently known, however, and it is likely that actual targeting coordinates for an anti-ship ballistic missile would come from outside sources, such as sea surveillance aircraft, RORSATs, or other technical means.ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
Feel free to discuss the current Image of the Week at the IMINT & Analysis Forum Image of the Week discussion thread found here.
SOURCES
-Overhead imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth
1 comments:
With reference to your OTH radar 24Oct, please also see possible HF OTH at 40º 29' 51.38" N, 116º 01' 35.53"E at 1063 AMSL. This is a very complex array of three non-linear sections having a general Southeasterly boresight. The westerly array is possibly the transmitter, the easterly a receive array and the northerly I have yet to figure out. I know of no other non-linear array in China or elsewhere. I do not think it is a DF system, because it is incomplete, and it does not hang together well as a comms site. Many thanks for all your good work. best regards. Jacey
Post a Comment