P-18 radar

P-18 radar
Country	Soviet Union
Role	Early Warning
Introduced	1970
Built	Unknow

The P-18 or 1RL131 Terek (also referred to by the NATO reporting name “Spoon Rest D” in the west) is a 2D VHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.

Source: P-18 radar on Wikipedia

P-18 Radar Walk Around
Photographers	Vladimir Yakubov, Carrey
Localisation	Stalin Line Museum, Zaslavl, Belarus
Photos	120

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P-18 Radar 09

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General Characteristics and Role

The P-18 (NATO reporting name: “Spoon Rest D”) is a highly mobile, long-range 2D early warning and ground-controlled intercept (GCI) radar system developed and introduced by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. It is a modernized version of the earlier P-12 radar. Its most significant characteristic is its operation in the very high frequency (VHF) band, specifically the **metric wavelength band**. This low operating frequency gives the P-18 a critical advantage: the ability to detect and track modern aircraft designed to be stealthy at higher frequencies, as it exploits the resonance effects and radar cross-section characteristics of aircraft at longer wavelengths. The P-18 is typically deployed on two or three trucks for high mobility and rapid deployment.

Property	Typical Value (P-18 / 1RL131)
Role	2D Early Warning, Target Acquisition, GCI
National Origin	Soviet Union (USSR)
Manufacturer	Soviet/Russian Defence Industry
Service Entry	1970s
Operating Frequency	VHF Band (Metric Wavelengths)
Antenna Type	Large, highly directional Yagi antenna array
Maximum Detection Range	Up to 250 km (160 miles)
Maximum Altitude Coverage	Up to 35 km (115,000 ft)
Mobility	Mounted on 2-3 Ural-375 or Ural-4320 trucks

Technical Operation and Features

Band Operation (VHF): The P-18 operates in a frequency range (often 150-170 MHz) that is problematic for modern stealth aircraft, which are primarily optimized for defeat against higher frequency radars (like X-band or S-band).
Counter-Stealth Capability: The long wavelength means the radar energy interacts with the entire structure of a stealth aircraft rather than just the designed low-observable surfaces, leading to a much larger detectable radar cross-section.
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF): Integrated secondary radar system for identifying friendly aircraft.
Deployment: The entire system, including the operator cabin and antenna components, can be set up or torn down relatively quickly, typically in less than an hour, enhancing its survivability.

Service and Modernization

Widespread Use: The P-18 was exported widely throughout the Warsaw Pact and client states across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Longevity: Due to its effectiveness against stealth, many countries have modernized their P-18 systems with new processing hardware and digital receivers, extending their service life well into the 21st century.
Notable Success: During the Kosovo War in 1999, a P-18 radar is widely credited with helping to cue the engagement systems that shot down a US F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, demonstrating the vulnerability of early-generation stealth technology to low-frequency radar.