At least two 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1 low-altitude radars are currently deployed at the Hmeimim airbase on the Syrian coast, according to a photo appeared in Russian social media on September 24.
Developed by Russia’s defense giant Almaz-Antey, Podlet K1 is a 3D, S-Band, low-altitude radar with a range of 200-300 km depending on the operation mode. The radar uses a Passive Electronically Steered Array (PESA) antenna.
IMAGE: vk.com/milinfolive
The Podlet K1 was designed to detect hostile targets flying at low-altitude, provide early warning and support Russian advanced air-defense systems, such as the S-400.
The radars were likely deployed at the Hmeimim airbase to help detecting armed drones, which have been attacking the base for more than a year now. Terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, are believed to be behind these attacks.
Since early 2018, Russian air-defense and radar systems deployed in Hmeimim have foiled all the attacks on the base without sustaining any losses.
