Burdock can both detect Ukrainian UAVs and suppress them with directional radiation. The Ukrainian military can detect such complexes, but it is very difficult to do so.
Ukrainian intelligence officers spotted a new Russian radar station called Burdock at the front. Serviceman and radio technology expert Sergei Flash told Facebook what its features are.
The Burdock radar with a power of 2 W operates in the range of 9.2-9.5 GHz, notices drones such as DJI Mavic 2 at a distance of 2 km, and larger Matrices – up to 3 km. The device determines the location of the UAV using the classical radar method, that is, it emits signals, picks up reflections from the object and transmits data to the operator.
As Sergei Flash noted, this technology has both advantages and disadvantages. The main weakness of Burdock is that it can also be seen by radio emission. However, it is extremely difficult to do this from the ground, because the rays are directed upwards, and the 9 GHz band is very rare and not captured by all portable electronic intelligence equipment.
The Burdock complex finds the drone, takes the azimuth and angle, and then activates the electronic warfare system in the form of some kind of “turrets” with a power of 30 W per range. They attack the target with directional radiation at such frequencies: 860 – 930; 1560 – 1620; 2400 – 2485; 5250 – 5680; 5725 – 5850.
“Radar” Burdock “is the second technical “masterpiece” of the Sestroretsk Arms Plant after the “terrible” “hunter” for Starlinks, the “Borshchevik” complex. By the way, if you didn’t know, “Borshchevik” is mentioned by the developers, next to the StarLink brand only for hype. in fact, this is a direction finder of WiFi signal sources: routers, bridges, etc. Perhaps a good direction finder, but without magic and all sorts of “analogues” there, – added Sergey Flash.
The testing of prototypes of the Russian Burdock radar in Ukraine became known in December 2022. According to media reports, the military of the RF Armed Forces began to use the devices in two sectors of the front and share their experience with manufacturers. The complex consists of the radar station itself, a phased antenna array (AFAR), a tripod, a battery and a control panel – all together it weighs 25.5 kg. The system automatically accompanies up to 256 objects and transmits data to the operator every 1.25 seconds.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian engineer Dmitry Selin has developed a portable drone detection system. It is capable of detecting Orlans, Elerons and other models of Russian UAVs that are launched over Ukraine.
