The ground forces of the modern army need a large amount of special equipment and electronic equipment. In particular, artillery needs radar reconnaissance systems capable of monitoring the specified territory and monitoring the results of firing. Currently, the main domestic means of this class are complexes of the Zoo family.
1L219 "Zoo"
The development of the 1L219 "Zoo" radar artillery reconnaissance complex began in accordance with the decree of the USSR Council of Ministers of July 5, 1981. The new radar was intended to replace existing types of equipment, primarily the 1RL239 Lynx complex, which was actively used by the troops. Scientific research institute "Strela" (Tula) was appointed the lead developer of the project, V. I. Simachev. Several other organizations were also involved in the work. For example, NPP "Istok" (Fryazino) was responsible for the development of microwave equipment, and the Tula plant "Arsenal" was to build prototypes of the finished complex.
It should be noted that one decree of the Council of Ministers required the creation of two artillery reconnaissance complexes at once. The systems "Zoo-1" and "Zoo-2" were supposed to have different characteristics and differ in some components. This implied the maximum possible unification of the two types of equipment.
Self-propelled radar 1L219 "Zoo-1"
The development of a new project at a certain stage encountered some difficulties, which led to a shift in the timing of the implementation of different stages. So, the draft version of the 1L219 Zoo project was completed in two years: it was ready in 1983. The next year, a technical version of the project was prepared. In 1986, the organizations involved in the project completed all the work on the preparation of design documentation, but the start of construction of experimental reconnaissance complexes was postponed due to the changed requirements of the customer.
On June 19, 1986, the Council of Ministers issued a new decree that determined the further development of radar reconnaissance systems for artillery. The military wished to receive not only a self-propelled vehicle with a set of electronic equipment, but also a number of other means. In accordance with the new decree, it was required to develop a new complex of means, which was to include the Zoo machine. Due to changes in the customer's requirements, the project developers had to re-develop some elements of the complex. Some of the radio-electronic equipment, including target detection equipment, has undergone alteration.
Due to numerous modifications, the construction of the experimental Zoo vehicle was delayed. It was released for preliminary tests only in 1988. This stage of checks, accompanied by various modifications, continued until the spring of 1990, when several prototypes were presented for state tests. During the year, the equipment was tested in the ground forces of several military districts. During these events, all the necessary information was collected about the operation of the complex in the conditions of combat units.
In the course of all tests, the design characteristics of the complex were confirmed and the advantages over the existing Lynx system were revealed. In particular, the range was increased by 10%, the field of view was doubled, and the throughput of the automation was increased by 10 times. According to the results of state tests, the 1L219 "Zoo-1" radar artillery reconnaissance complex was put into service. The corresponding command order was signed on April 18, 1992.
The Zoo-1 reconnaissance complex was intended to monitor the indicated areas, track enemy artillery and control the results of the firing of their batteries. In order to ensure the possibility of combat work in the same positions with artillery, all the equipment of the complex was mounted on a self-propelled chassis. The MT-LBu universal tractor was chosen as the basis for the complex. With a combat weight of the vehicle of the order of 16.1 tons, a maximum speed of 60-62 km / h is provided. All facilities of the complex are controlled by a crew of three.
An antenna post is mounted on the roof of the base chassis, made in the form of a turntable with a phased antenna array installed on it. In the stowed position, the antenna is lowered to a horizontal position, and the entire post rotates along the body of the machine. The antenna array is part of a three-dimensional radar station and allows you to track a sector with a width of up to 60 ° in azimuth. The sector of view in elevation is about 40 °. The ability to rotate the antenna post allows you to change the surveillance sector without moving the entire vehicle.
The radar of the 1L219 complex operates in the centimeter range and is controlled by onboard digital computers such as "Electronics-81B" and "Siver-2". All operations for tracking the specified sector, detecting targets and issuing processed information are performed automatically. The calculation of the complex has the ability to monitor systems and, if necessary, intervene in their work. To display information about the situation at the commander's and operator's workplaces, black-and-white screens on CRT are provided.
Scheme of operation of the 1L219 system
The main task of the 1L219 "Zoo-1" reconnaissance complex was to detect the positions of enemy missile forces and artillery, as well as to calculate the trajectories of projectiles. In addition, it was possible to control the firing of their own artillery. The main method for determining coordinates and trajectories was tracking small-sized high-speed ballistic targets - projectiles. The station was supposed to automatically track the projectiles, calculate their trajectories and determine the location of guns or launchers.
Automation of the Zoo-1 complex is capable of detecting at least 10 enemy firing positions per minute. At the same time, tracking of no more than 4 targets is provided. The probability of determining the position of the gun by the first shot was determined at the level of 80%. In the course of combat work, the complex was supposed to determine the current parameters of the flying projectile, as well as calculate its full trajectory along the known area. After that, the automatics gave information about the place where the projectile was launched to the command post. Further, this information should have been transferred to artillery for a retaliatory strike against the enemy's firing position in order to destroy his equipment and weapons. To determine its own position used in determining the coordinates of targets, the 1T130M "Mayak-2" topogeodetic referencing system is used.
Serial production of self-propelled radar artillery reconnaissance systems 1L219 "Zoo-1" was entrusted to the enterprise "Vector" (Yekaterinburg). Initially, it was assumed that the 1L219 complexes would be used in missile forces and artillery at the regimental level. Each regiment and brigade had to have their own systems of this type, designed to track enemy artillery and issue coordinates for counter-battery combat.
Nevertheless, the collapse of the Soviet Union did not allow to fully and quickly implement all existing plans. Serial construction of machines "Zoo-1" was carried out at a relatively slow pace, but in recent years, the ground forces managed to get a certain amount of such equipment. All 1L219 stations are used in the control system of artillery formations and successfully solve the tasks assigned to them.
1L220 "Zoo-2"
By a resolution of the Council of Ministers of July 5, 1981, it was required to develop two radar reconnaissance systems at once. The first, 1L219, was created by the Tula Scientific Research Institute "Strela" in cooperation with several other enterprises. The development of the second complex with the designation 1L220 was entrusted to NPO Iskra (Zaporozhye). The task of the second project was to create another reconnaissance complex with an increased detection range. The rest of the goals and objectives of the projects were the same.
Within the framework of the Zoo-2 project, a complex of electronic equipment was developed, suitable for mounting on various chassis. It was planned to offer the customer two modifications of the reconnaissance system at once, mounted on different chassis. There was a project of a machine based on the GM-5951 tracked chassis and the KrAZ-63221 wheeled chassis. The wheel complex received its own designation 1L220U-KS. In the case of a tracked chassis, the electronic equipment was located inside a lightly armored body, on the roof of which a rotary antenna post was installed. The wheeled vehicle project involved the use of a box body with the appropriate equipment.
Complex 1L220 "Zoo-2" on a tracked chassis. Photo Catalog.use.kiev.ua
According to the general architecture, the "Zaporozhye" version of the complex resembled a machine developed by Tula specialists. It was proposed to equip the 1L220 complex with a radar station with a phased antenna array mounted on a rotary base. Working in the centimeter range, the station was supposed to detect flying artillery shells.
The electronics of the Zoo-2 complex made it possible to automatically monitor the situation, search for targets and determine their trajectories, while calculating the location of enemy guns.
After the collapse of the USSR, the enterprises involved in the Zoo program remained in different countries, which led to serious difficulties in work. Despite all the problems, NPO Iskra continued work and completed the creation of a new artillery reconnaissance complex. Due to some problems, it was necessary to carry out additional revision of the project. The updated version of the project was designated 1L220U.
Due to the country's economic problems, the need to finalize the project, etc. tests of the prototype of the Zoo-2 system began only in the late nineties. According to the test results, the system was adopted by the Ukrainian army in 2003. Subsequently, Ukrainian enterprises in cooperation with foreign organizations built a certain amount of such equipment, supplied to the armed forces.
According to available data, due to the modifications of the electronic equipment, it was possible to significantly improve the characteristics of the 1L220U complex in comparison with the "Tula" 1L219. The station of the Ukrainian-designed machine is capable of tracking a sector with a width of 60 ° in azimuth. The radar can detect operational-tactical missiles at ranges up to 80 km. When the enemy uses multiple launch rocket systems, the maximum detection range, depending on the type of missile, is 50 km. Mortar mines of caliber up to 120 mm are noticed by the station at ranges of up to 30 km. The possibility of detecting up to 50 enemy firing positions per minute is declared.
1L219M "Zoo-1"
In the early nineties, the Strela Research Institute began developing a modernized version of the Zoo-1 complex. The updated version of the complex received the index 1L219M. In some sources, there are various additional designations for this complex, in particular, sometimes the name "Zoo-1M" appears. However, such a "name" was later assigned to another complex of the family.
Machine 1L219M "Zoo-1". Photo Pvo.guns.ru
The goal of the 1L219M project was to replace obsolete equipment with new ones with improved characteristics. For example, the PCBM was replaced. In the updated complex, computer equipment of the Baguette family is used to control the operation of the automation. In addition, in the modernization project, a new system of topogeodetic referencing was used. To accurately determine its own coordinates, the upgraded Zoo-1 machine received a 1T215M topographic surveyor and a GLONASS receiver.
According to the developer, in the 1L219M project, it was possible to significantly improve the characteristics of the radar station. Thus, the detection range of operational-tactical missiles was increased to 45 km. The maximum detection range of rockets increased to 20 km. When the enemy uses 81-120 mm mortars, it is possible to determine the firing position at ranges of up to 20-22 km.
The automation of the 1L219M complex is capable of processing up to 70 targets per minute. Up to 12 objects are tracked at the same time. To automatically calculate the full trajectory of an enemy ammunition with the definition of the launch point and the point of impact, it takes no more than 15-20 s.
In addition to the radar equipment, the calculation jobs have undergone modernization. The main innovation was the use of color monitors, which display all information about the situation in the area of responsibility of the station. All data on the found enemy firing positions are automatically transmitted to the command post and can then be used to retaliate.
The development of the 1L219M Zoo-1 project was completed in the mid-nineties. Testing of the prototype started shortly thereafter. According to some sources, during the tests, numerous shortcomings were identified, primarily related to the reliability of various units. As a result, it was decided to modify the system in order to improve the characteristics that do not meet the requirements.
Machine 1L219M "Zoo-1". Photo Ru-armor.livejournal.com [/center]
There is no exact information on the production and operation of the 1L219M complexes. Some sources mention the construction of such a technique and even its use in some recent conflicts. However, there is no complete evidence for this. Probably, it was decided not to start mass production of new equipment due to the lack of serious advantages over the existing one, as well as because of the difficult economic situation of the armed forces. Nevertheless, the complex "Zoo-1" in the updated version was demonstrated at various exhibitions.
1L260 "Zoo-1M"
The last artillery reconnaissance complex of the Zoo family at the moment is the system with the 1L260 index, created in the 2000s. After the not very successful project 1L219M, the Tula Scientific Research Institute "Strela" continued to work on the creation of new radar stations for the ground forces. To date, the Strela enterprise has received the status of a research and production association and became part of the Almaz-Antey air defense concern.
Self-propelled radar 1L261 "Zoo-1M". Photo Npostrela.com
The Zoo-1M complex, despite its name, is not a modernized version of existing equipment, but a completely new development. For example, the new complex includes several components at once that perform various functions. The main element of the complex is a self-propelled radar station 1L261 on a tracked chassis. In addition, a 1I38 maintenance vehicle and a backup power plant are involved in combat work. Auxiliary elements of the complex are mounted on a car chassis. According to some reports, a self-propelled radar, if necessary, can perform assigned tasks independently and without the help of additional elements of the complex.
Self-propelled radar 1L261 differs from its predecessors in a different layout of the main units. As before, all machine units are installed on a tracked chassis, which is used as a GM-5955 machine. An antenna post with lifting and rotation mechanisms is mounted on the roof of the hull. In the stowed position, the phased array antenna fits onto the middle and aft part of the hull cover. The combat weight of the vehicle exceeds 38 tons. The work of all systems is controlled by a crew of three.
During the preparation of the complex for operation, the antenna rises and can rotate around the vertical axis, changing the field of view. The design of the phased array allows the station calculation to track objects located in a sector with a width of 90 ° in azimuth. The exact characteristics of the target detection range have not yet been announced. According to previously published data, the 1L261 station is capable of determining the firing position of enemy artillery with an error of up to 40 m. When calculating the launch point of rockets of multiple launch rocket systems, the error is 55 m, the launch point of ballistic missiles - 90 m.
The complete composition of the complex 1L260 "Zoo-1M". Photo Npostrela.com
There is no exact information about the current state of the 1L260 Zoo-1M project. According to some reports, a few years ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered a number of such complexes, but the details of the contract were not disclosed. In addition, in 2013, one of the stages of testing the complex could be carried out. Official information about the Zoo-1M complex and its prospects has not yet been published.
