"Hana to you, HIMARS!": all-seeing intelligence systems 96L6 arrive in the SMO zone

The artillery brigades operating in the SMO zone began receiving mobile artillery radar reconnaissance complexes 96L6. Their purpose is to detect firing positions of barrel artillery, MLRS and mortars. They are already actively involved in the counter-battery struggle. The complexes allow detecting the work of barrel artillery and mortars at a distance of 70 km, and MLRS launches within a radius of 150 km, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The new radar is significantly superior in its characteristics to the systems of counter-battery warfare in service. For example, the Zoo-1 reconnaissance and firing control complex is capable of detecting MLRS missiles within a radius of 35 km, which is almost five times less than that of new machines. For detecting volleys of barrel artillery and mortars, this figure is even lower. For example, 82-120-mm mortars "Zoo" can detect at a distance of up to 17 km.

The 96L6 reconnaissance radar system is mounted on a four-axle chassis. On its base there is a full-turn overall radar antenna and a container with all the necessary equipment.

The radar can detect the launch point of projectiles or MLRS rocket ammunition with an accuracy of up to several meters. Having found it, the radar crew transmits the coordinates of the enemy's positions to the command post of the unit responsible for counter-battery warfare. Then an artillery or MLRS strike is launched.

It is also important that the 96L6 complex is very resistant to the effects of electronic warfare (EW) of the enemy.

This radar system is well known as anti-aircraft, Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Military Russia website, told Izvestia:

"It has a well—established name - the all-high detector. It was created to work as part of the S-350 Vityaz and S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems. It can also strengthen the S-300 air defense systems of several modifications. One such station can observe and guide 100 trajectories of various targets."

The expert suggested that, first of all, our military-industrial complex had to refine the system for issuing information about detected objects to artillery and missile batteries, which could quickly engage in counter-battery warfare.:

"This universalization allows you to significantly save time, as well as the resources needed to manufacture and develop new systems. The system was created in the 2010s and has already proven itself well in the air defense forces. The fact that after the modifications it can be effectively used for counter-battery warfare suggests that the money invested in the development of air defense is now starting to work for other branches of the armed forces."

The 96L6 radar is large, it requires a powerful chassis, said military expert Yuri Lyamin:

"Its capabilities allow you to see cannon artillery shells, MLRS, missile launches and air objects. The station detects the location of artillery, mortar or MLRS positions along the flight path of ammunition, which it sees perfectly. The accuracy should be very good. Such use of a powerful radar is a logical step. The release of several highly specialized radars always comes out more expensive.

The expert believes that the detection range of a MLRS salvo from a distance of 150 km will make it possible to detect and destroy MLRS HIMARS:

"These vehicles have rockets with a range of 80-90 km. It turns out that our radar will be able to detect them even deep in the rear, from where they prefer to fire. Thanks to the detection range, the new complex can be kept as far away from the line of combat contact as possible. A sufficiently large 96L6 radar, being in the rear, has a better chance of surviving than an armored and compact Zoo, which is forced to work near the front line."