UKRAINIAN S-300PT STATUS
The image above, captured in 2002, depicts a Ukrainian S-300PT (SA-10A GRUMBLE) SAM site south of Odessa. This specific image is interesting as it depicts an operational S-300PT site hosting a co-located S-300PS battery (SA-10B GRUMBLE). More recent imagery captured in April of 2007 indicates that the S-300PT battery has departed, with the S-300PS battery taking up primary residence at the site. This could be indicative of a reconfiguring of the Ukrainian SAM force, placing the more capable systems along the periphery of the nation. Alternatively it could be indicative of the replacement of S-300PT batteries with S-300PS units. Whatever the case may be, this example highlights the capability of using open source imagery to conduct a chronological evaluation of military facilities. While commercial satellite imagery is not able to provide current up-to-date imaging support for every significant military facility, the ability to exploit imagery in this fashion by grasping the value of the dates when images have been captured is a useful analytical tool for the open source analyst.
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, captured in 2002, depicts a Ukrainian S-300PT (SA-10A GRUMBLE) SAM site south of Odessa. This specific image is interesting as it depicts an operational S-300PT site hosting a co-located S-300PS battery (SA-10B GRUMBLE). More recent imagery captured in April of 2007 indicates that the S-300PT battery has departed, with the S-300PS battery taking up primary residence at the site. This could be indicative of a reconfiguring of the Ukrainian SAM force, placing the more capable systems along the periphery of the nation. Alternatively it could be indicative of the replacement of S-300PT batteries with S-300PS units. Whatever the case may be, this example highlights the capability of using open source imagery to conduct a chronological evaluation of military facilities. While commercial satellite imagery is not able to provide current up-to-date imaging support for every significant military facility, the ability to exploit imagery in this fashion by grasping the value of the dates when images have been captured is a useful analytical tool for the open source analyst. 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
7 comments:
Most probably S-300PT was sold to Iran.
Ukraine delivers weapon to Sri Lanka, Somali, Pakistan, Afganistan and other "rebels".
The availability of timely happy snaps (for example the 6 hour turn around of the Mall image on Tuesday 20 Jan 09) is a harbinger of future capabilities. With the number of ~<1m systems due up in the next 5 years growing, one would also anticipate that the cost per sq ft for coverage will also decrease.
Sending them to Iran is interesting, they did send a few Kh-55 missiles to Iran and China. It's Belarus that is often mentioned in connection with an S-300PT sale to Iran, though.
The image of the Mall for the inauguration was a lucky shot, the satellite happened to be in the area!
That is also may be true: rumors say that Belarus upgraded Iran's S-200VE and participated in exchange S-125 to Pechora-2M.
Question: does Ukraine have the indigenous capability to produce new S-300 batteries? Or is it totally reliant upon Soviet left over stock/Russia.
No, Ukraine has only radars production like Kolchuga (Chain Armor) or Olovyannyi Shchit (Tin Shield). All Buk-1M, Cub and S-300 are from USSR without proper modernization. That is a reason for efficiency during Georgian conflict - no way to decode and switch off.
Kolchuga isn't radar!
In UA:
http://www.iskra.zp.ua/ver2_angl/index.htm and zavod "Topaz" in Donetsk
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