The Voronezh-M early warning radar in Lekhtusi, near St.-Petersburg finally began combat duty on February 11, 2012. This is the latest in the series of announcements about the radar's beginning its operations - initial tests began in December 2005, experimental combat service - in December 2006. The radar was accepted for service in December 2009.
The radar in Lekhtusi is the first Voronezh-M radar, so its long way to the full operational status is not surprising. A radar of this class is being built in Mishelevka (it appears that two radars are built there). Russia is also building Voronezh-DM radars - two in Armavir, one in Kaninigrad - and planning to build one in Barnaul. New radars will also be built in Olenegorsk and Pechora.
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Comments
Pavel,
Thanks for this update on the EWR front, which is quite active.
Are there indications on the type that will be built (M or DM) at Olenegorsk and Pechora?
The on-site building/assembling of Lekhtusi Voronezh M was fairly fast, we'll see if Mishelevka does the same.
On the other hand, the testing was unbelievably long to me (even for a 1st radar, and even though is was reported as being already under test whereas the antenna was only 1/3 complete). A radar being accepted for service in late 2009, after 3 years of "experimental combat service" which suggests extensive operational tests, and being put on combat duty only 26 months later... doesn't make much sense, unless we don't give the same meaning to words! or there were serious technical problems. Any such indication?
Best regards.
My guess is that it will be Voronezh-M in Pechora and Olenegorsk, but this is not based on anything.
On the Lekhtusi radar, I agree - it took quite a while to bring it into combat mode. Doesn't seem too unusual to me, though.