BARANAVICHI BUK
The image above depicts a Belarussian Buk (SA-11 GADFLY) SAM battery defending Baranavichi airbase southwest of Minsk. This site is interesting because of the specific equipment present. While the 9A38 TELARs and probable 9S470 CP vehicle are standard items, the EW radar present is most decidedly not. The 9S18 Kupol (TUBE ARM) radar had not been in service for very long before it was replaced in later Buk models by the 9S18M1 (SNOW DRIFT) phased-array radar system. Significantly altering the EW component in such a manner is indicative of dissatisfaction with the original system, suggesting that performance parameters were less than required. Sighting an original Kupol acquisition radar at an operational Buk site is significant as it suggests that the older systems may have been around in larger numbers than previously realized. The tactical systems retained by Belarus after the fall of the USSR should have represented examples of the more sophisticated systems available. Buk batteries retaining original Kupol radars would not have been likely candidates for deployment near NATO's lines were there enough of the more advanced Buk-M1 systems available. Alternatively, Belarus may have simply retained some of these original systems and chosen to exploit them in a point-defense capacity rather than retire them; there are at least two known Buk garrisons inside of Belarus which may contain the more capable Buk-M1 variants, if any are present, holding them in storage for future use if required.
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
-Satellite imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth
The image above depicts a Belarussian Buk (SA-11 GADFLY) SAM battery defending Baranavichi airbase southwest of Minsk. This site is interesting because of the specific equipment present. While the 9A38 TELARs and probable 9S470 CP vehicle are standard items, the EW radar present is most decidedly not. The 9S18 Kupol (TUBE ARM) radar had not been in service for very long before it was replaced in later Buk models by the 9S18M1 (SNOW DRIFT) phased-array radar system. Significantly altering the EW component in such a manner is indicative of dissatisfaction with the original system, suggesting that performance parameters were less than required. Sighting an original Kupol acquisition radar at an operational Buk site is significant as it suggests that the older systems may have been around in larger numbers than previously realized. The tactical systems retained by Belarus after the fall of the USSR should have represented examples of the more sophisticated systems available. Buk batteries retaining original Kupol radars would not have been likely candidates for deployment near NATO's lines were there enough of the more advanced Buk-M1 systems available. Alternatively, Belarus may have simply retained some of these original systems and chosen to exploit them in a point-defense capacity rather than retire them; there are at least two known Buk garrisons inside of Belarus which may contain the more capable Buk-M1 variants, if any are present, holding them in storage for future use if required.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
-Satellite imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth
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