Last Updated: Fri Jul 30 14:32:11 UTC 2010


76N6 Clam Shell Low Altitude Acquisition Radar
5N66/5N66M/76N6/76N6E/40V6M/MD Clam Shell

Technical Report APA-TR-2004-1001
 
by Dr Carlo Kopp, SMAIAA, MIEEE, PEng
Australian Aviation, October, 1995
Updated June, 2008
Updated May, 2009
Updated June, 2009
© 1995, 2008, 2009 Carlo Kopp

76N6 Nizkovysotniy Obnaruzhitel'

76N6 Clam Shell with 78 ft 40V6M mast for improved low altitude coverage.

The Moscow based LEMZ (Lianozovo) company is now openly marketing the Clam Shell (5N66M/76N6) low altitude search and acquisition radar for the SA-10A/B (S-300 PMU) Grumble SAM system. Representatives of the company provided a technical brochure to Australian Aviation at the Avalon Airshow in Melbourne. The SA-10 is at this time the most potent of the late generation ex-Soviet strategic area defence SAM systems to be exported.

The Clam Shell is a low altitude FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave) search and acquisition radar designed to detect and track approaching and receding low radar cross section (RCS) targets, particularly cruise missiles. The system will detect targets at extremely low altitudes in ground clutter under intense ECM conditions. This system is described as fully automatic and provides target track information for the fire control system of the static SA-10A or mobile SA-10B Grumble area defence SAM. Approaching and receding target velocity, range and bearing are provided, with selectable 1 or 6 degree vertical beamwidths, and selectable beam polarisation.

The FA-51MU antenna head subsystem combines a receive and transmit antenna, separated by a shielding structure, which prevents spillover from the transmitter into the receiver. The brochure states the antenna design includes sidelobe suppression features. The doubly curved transmit and receive reflectors each measure 9.2 ft square. The antenna head is mounted on a hydraulically elevated mast which is supplied in two versions, the taller 127 ft 40V6MD and the shorter 78 ft 40V6M (see photo). The antenna mast and head are mated before elevation on a semi-trailer which is towed by a MAZ-537 tractor.

The Clam Shell transmitter, embedded in the FA52MU Receiver/Transmitter Module, produces a high purity CW signal for search mode operation, with imposed low frequency FM modulation for ranging to targets. Appropriate signal processing provides rejection of clutter, terrain features, precipitation, high density chaff clouds and jamming. Horizontal scan through through 360 degrees is achieved by antenna head rotation, using a conventional rotational coupler.

The operator console, signal processing hardware, track data processor, BIT subsystem and PPI display tube are all built into the road transportable F52MU modular shelter. Operation of the radar can be manual or fully automatic and the system may be remotely controlled via cables from distances up to 500 metres.

Quoted performance figures include the detection of targets with an RCS as low as 0.02 square metres, at speeds of up to 1,400 kt, with a bearing resolution of 1 degree, velocity resolution of 9.3 kt and range resolution of 2.15 NM. Quoted RMS tracking errors are 0.3 degree in bearing, 4.7 kt in velocity and 1 NM in range. Chaff rejection performance is quoted at better than 100 dB, detection range is stated to be 50 NM for targets at 1,500 ft altitude, and 65 NM for 3,000 ft altitude. The transmitter delivers 1.4 kW of CW power at an unspecified carrier frequency, system MTBF is quoted at 100 hr with an MTTR of 0.5 hr.

The typical SA-10B Grumble mobile battery is comprised of a Flap Lid B phased array fire control radar, colocated with the operators' command shelter on an 8x8 all terrain carrier vehicle, multiple TEL vehicles each carrying four rounds in cylindrical containers, and a pair of search and acquisition radars. The Big Bird F-band acquisition radar provides long range search at medium to high altitudes, and is supplemented by the Clam Shell which provides low level coverage, particularly against cruise missile type targets. A mast mounted semi-mobile Flap Lid A phased array may also be used, providing engagement capability against low flying targets. The Flap Lid will provide for concurrent engagements against up to six targets, with two missiles allocated to each target. The SA-10 is reported to use a Track Via Missile (TVM) guidance scheme not unlike that in the Patriot SAM. It is reasonable to expect that the mast mounted Flap Lid A will be used together with the mast mounted Clam Shell, to provide an integrated acquisition and engagement capability against low flying targets up to the radar horizon.

An issue for the Western electronic warfare community is that the Clam Shell uses FMCW techniques, while many older and established radar warning receivers (RWRs) and trackbreaker jammers (ECM) may not have the capability to detect and jam this system. FMCW systems are generally credited with excellent resistance to conventional jamming techniques, and excellent clutter and chaff rejection, both points stressed in the manufacturer's document. As this system is now being marketed worldwide, with China and India reported as initial export customers, it is likely that it will find other regional users in time. Aircraft not equipped with suitable RWR and ECM will be highly vulnerable to this capable area defence SAM system.

Given the stated performance parameters of the Grumble weapon system, and its regional deployment, we can hope the ADF has given some careful thought to its RWR and countermeasures strategy for the next five to ten years. This particular system could be a serious threat to RAAF aircraft should hostilities take place in the future, and type specific countermeasures will be required as this system is specifically built to defeat terrain following and low flying aircraft and standoff missiles. Should type specific ECM be lacking, substantial defence suppression effort using anti-radiation missiles would be required.

The regional marketing of components of this weapon system underscores the current trend of cutting edge air defence weapons proliferating into regional markets. The arms race we are seeing in Asia today is unlikely to abate as economic and political competition grows in the region. Up to date ECM is therefore a must in what could become a dangerous neighbourhood.

NKMZ 40V6M/40V6MD Universal Mobile Mast Analysis [Click for more ...]


Specifications (LEMZ)
Диапазон частот излучения
Operating frequency band
С
S
Количество перестраиваемых частот
Number of frequency channels
6
Обнаруживаемые цели:
Detection performance:
 
по дальности, км:
in range [km]:
 
на предельно малых высотах
at extremely low altitudes
практически реализуется дальность радиогоризонта
radar horizon limited
на высотах 500 м
at 500 [m]
90
на высотах 1000 м
at 1,000 [m]
120
по отражающим поверхностям, м2
with Radar Cross Section [m2]
0,02
по скорости, м/с
at velocity [m/s]
не более 740
no greater than 740
по азимуту, град.
in aziumth [deg]
в пределах 360
по углу места, град:
elevation [deg]
 
при вертикальной поляризации
when vertically polarised
до 1
при горизонтальной поляризации
when horizontally polarised
до 2
Коэффициент подавления отражений от пассивных помех, дБ
Chaff rejection [dB]
не менее 100
Вероятность обнаружения целей
Probability of target detection
более 0,5
Вероятность ложных тревог
FAR
10e-8 - 10e-9
Темп выдачи информации ЦУ, с
Data output rate
3
Производительность, количество целей
Number of tracked targets
180
Среднеквадратические ошибки измерения координат:
RMS error in target coordinates:
 
азимута, угл. мин.
azimuth [min]
10-20
радиальной скорости, м/с
radial velocity [m/s]
2,4
дальности, км
range [km]
2,0
Уровень первых боковых лепестков ДН, дБ
First sidelobe level [dB]
менее 25
less than 25
Уровень фонобоковых лепестков ДН, дБ
Backlobe level [dB]
менее 40-50
less than 40-50
Развязка между приемной и передающей антеннами, дБ
Spillover between transmit and receive antennas [dB]
не менее 95
Высота фазового центра антенного устройства поста Ф5МУ на вышке 40В6М, м
Phase centre elevation using F5MU head on 40V6M [m]
23,8
Скорость вращения антенного поста, об./мин.
Antenna head rotation rate [RPM]
20
Средняя мощность передающего устройства, кВт
Average CW transmit power [kW]
не менее 1,4
no less than 1.4
Коэффициент шума приемного устройства, ед.
Receiver noise figure
не более 12
no more than 12
Потребляемая мощность (максимально), кВт
Maximum power consumption [kW]
55
Время включения, мин.
Warmup time [min]
2,5
Время развертывания с подъемом на вышку 40В6М, ч
Time to deploy on 40V6M mast [hr]
1
РЛС работоспособна в следующих климатических условиях:
The radar will operate under the following climatic conditions:
 
температура, °С
temperature [°С]
±50
влажность, % (при t° = 30 °С)
humidity [percent] at temp=30 °С
98
запыленность, г/м3
dust density [g/m3]
не более 1-1,5
ветер, м/с
wind [m/s]
не более 30
Устойчивость к опрокидыванию:
Resistance to wind induced toppling:
 
при ветре, м/с
at wind velocity [m/s]
не более 50
no greater than 50
в условиях осадков, морского тумана, обледенения, солнечной радиации при размещении на высоте, м
under conditions of precipitation, fog, icing, solar radiation at elevations of [m]
не более 3000
no more than 3,000




The LEMZ 76N6 Clam Shell 2D FMCW acquisition radar is used to support the Flap Lid or Tomb Stone SA-10/20 fire control radar, and is specifically designed to acquire and track low flying cruise missiles and terrain following aircraft. The unit depicted is deployed on the 127 ft 40V6MD extended height elevating mast.







The deployment of the Clam Shell requires that the splayed supports be deployed before the mast is hydraulically elevated. This image gives a good measure of the size of this radar (upper). Slovakian Army S-300PMU battery elevating a 76N6 Clam Shell (lower - Slovakian MoD image).





An interesting view of the 76N6 mounted on a deployed 40V6M mast. The radar head has been tilted by 90° and the transmit and receive reflectors fully deployed (Russian internet).



Background - a 76N6 Clam Shell on the 40V6M mast almost fully elevated. The foreground image is a 5P85TE1 TEL.



Greek Cypriot S-300PMU1 battery. In the foreground the stowed 30N6E1 Tomb Stone (Flap Lid), in the background the deployed 76N6 Clam Shell with 40V6M mast.



Russian test range shot of a 48N6E missile launch, with a 76N6 Clam Shell in the foreground.


Technical Report APA-TR-2004-1001




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