NAGORNO-KARABAKH 36D6
The image above depicts an S-300PT (SA-10A GRUMBLE) SAM site under construction in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This site was once likely meant to house one of the S-300PT SAM batteries delivered to Armenia from Russia, batteries which have since been seen to be deployed near the Armenian capital of Yerevan. This would have provided a significant increase in the air defense capability of the enclave, which is currently defended by S-125 (SA-3 GOA) and 2K11 Krug (SA-4 GANEF) systems. While no S-300PT has been deployed to the above site as of late 2007, the increased rhetoric between the Azeri government regarding the status of the enclave in 2008 may result in an eventual deployment. This may also be the reason that a 36D6 (TIN SHIELD) EW radar has been identified at this site since at least July of 2007, seen here near the buildings at the southwestern edge of the SAM site. A 36D6 radar position provided air surveillance coverage over the entire region and also can be integrated with a deployed S-300PT battery to provide target acquisition functions. While the presence of the radar does not appear to indicate an imminent SAM deployment, the presence of the site and the radar position does provide Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave with air defense options should Azeri rhetoric progress towards armed conflict.
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 an S-300PT (SA-10A GRUMBLE) SAM site under construction in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This site was once likely meant to house one of the S-300PT SAM batteries delivered to Armenia from Russia, batteries which have since been seen to be deployed near the Armenian capital of Yerevan. This would have provided a significant increase in the air defense capability of the enclave, which is currently defended by S-125 (SA-3 GOA) and 2K11 Krug (SA-4 GANEF) systems. While no S-300PT has been deployed to the above site as of late 2007, the increased rhetoric between the Azeri government regarding the status of the enclave in 2008 may result in an eventual deployment. This may also be the reason that a 36D6 (TIN SHIELD) EW radar has been identified at this site since at least July of 2007, seen here near the buildings at the southwestern edge of the SAM site. A 36D6 radar position provided air surveillance coverage over the entire region and also can be integrated with a deployed S-300PT battery to provide target acquisition functions. While the presence of the radar does not appear to indicate an imminent SAM deployment, the presence of the site and the radar position does provide Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave with air defense options should Azeri rhetoric progress towards armed conflict.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
5 comments:
Interesting! Same site can be seen at TERRASERVER on July 2008 - still without any preparation!
Cheers from rambo54
Respected SOC. I think that this radar is more correct looks as 5n63s. It can mean that before us position S-300PS
Burjuin, it's clearly a 36D6. You can tell by the shadows cast by the radar array. They wouldn't have the mobile 5N63S anyway, they have the containerized 5N63 as they received the S-300PT system.
You have information sources, what they have received S-300PT? I have an information that in 2005 on doctrines in Russia, on proving ground Ashuluk participated the Armenian antiaircraft rocket brigade (command point of system, 2 antiaircraft rocket battalions S-300PS). There they have applied a rocket 5V55R.
http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp? pr_sign=archive.2005.100.articles.army_01
Look at the SAM Site Overview file. There are at least three identified S-300PT locations around Yerevan, and one 64N6 radar position. Most of these cannot be seen in Google Earth and must be located using other imagery sources, in this case Terra Server. The S-300PT uses the unique "backwards" launcher and is easily identifiable. They may have trained on the similar S-300PS, but that's not what was delivered. The S-300PT can be upgraded to use the 5V55R, however.
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