Ukraine Strikes Blow: $100 Million Russian Radar Destroyed by Drones

The Russians lost a $100 million long-range radar system, Nebo-U, which had previously enabled them to control airspace up to approximately 435 miles deep into Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine destroyed this radar capability.

Although not posing a direct threat to adversaries, radar systems are crucial assets that significantly enhance the effectiveness of allied aviation and all ground-based armored forces. These systems enable monitoring enemy air movements – a critical advantage that military forces can leverage to strategize their strikes.

The Nebo-U radar was instrumental in Russia tracking Ukrainian aerial activities. However, its operational status came to an end, as reported by Ukrainian Pravda, among others. The news outlet, citing military sources, revealed that drones were pivotal in taking this equipment out of action. Seven kamikaze drones reportedly struck the $100 million system, effectively rendering it useless and causing it to cease functioning.

“The Nebo-U system enabled the occupiers to detect Ukrainian strike capabilities and supported bombers attacking the Ukrainian border zone with KABs (precision-guided bombs),” sources told Ukrainian Pravda, choosing to remain anonymous. The loss of the Nebo-U is a significant setback for the Russians—the radar could conduct reconnaissance missions over distances up to 435 miles and monitor targets at altitudes reaching around 46 miles.

As outlined by radartutorial.eu, the 55Zh6U Nebo-U is an entirely autonomous radar system that relays both analog and digital data to air defense systems. Per its manufacturer, this device operates in the VHF band and is notably adept at tracking objects exhibiting stealth characteristics. The precision of air target detection by this Russian creation is estimated to be around 1640 feet, with a position determination error of 0.4 degrees.