Russian Nebo-M (SKY-M) radars can detect fifth generation aircrafts, including F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II of the United States, says Director General Yan Novikov of Almaz-Antey which makes the radar.
“The Nebo-M radar is the menace of stealth technologies. It can see F-22, F-35 and so on perfectly well,” Novikov said during the New Knowledge educational marathon on Saturday.
The first serial Nebo-M was delivered to the Western Military District in 2017. Subsequently, the radar was installed with the regiments in Transbaikalia, Khabarovsk and Primorye regions. The radars were delivered to Crimean air defense in 2018.
Nebo-M is a mobile radar station that spots and tracks airborne targets with two radar systems operating in different frequency ranges. The Nebo-M consists of three trucks carrying a giant swimming-pool-sized antenna, a smaller one, and a command post module. Together they scan airspace at a range of 1,800 km and an altitude of 1,200 km.
The Nebo-M takes just 15 minutes to deploy and its mobility enables positioning in any required direction. It also has a strong jamming protection and works even if its radar systems get knocked out.
The Nebo-M is fully automated with digital information processing. When the complex detects a target, it is able to classify it on its own – whether it is a plane or a missile, and then transmit this information or the type of target to combat crews, or to the deployed air defence systems, for which the Nebo-M can serve as a pointer.
Concern VKO “Almaz-Antey” is the largest Russian manufacturer of air defense systems.