Ukrainian drones dismantle Russia's key battlefield radar
Russian radars are one of the key targets for the Ukrainians. By striking them, they weaken Russia's ability to detect and identify a wide range of targets—from aircraft and drones to missiles. Recent reports from Ukrainian intelligence indicate that the Zoopark-1 radar has been added to the list of eliminated equipment. Small drones reportedly took it down.
The press service of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine posted a video on Facebook showing the operation of Ukrainian drones. Their pilots first located the Russian artillery radar and then—using four long-range FPV (First Person View) drones—destroyed the 1L219 Zoopark-1. The Ukrainians emphasized the disparity between the cost of the tools used to eliminate the radar and the radar itself. According to them, several FPV drones cost 100,000 hryvnias, whereas the cost to build the Zoopark-1 is nearly a million hryvnias.
Russia is losing its "eyes"
Radars are high on Ukraine's target list because destroying them diminishes Russia's ability to build situational awareness on the battlefield and respond to emerging threats. The 1L219 Zoopark-1 artillery radar, often referred to as the eyes and ears of the Russian army, is primarily used for surveillance of enemy fire positions and correcting the fire of its own artillery. It also allows for calculating the trajectory of incoming shells, controlling drone operations, and monitoring airspace.
The Zoopark-1 was developed by the Russian company NNIIRT, a subsidiary of the Almaz-Antey corporation, in the 1980s. The Russian army adopted it in 1992. The system is adapted to scan within a 60° vertical and 40° horizontal range. It can detect up to 20 fire positions per minute and simultaneously track four targets. Data on their coordinates are transmitted to artillery units. The Zoopark-1 can detect howitzer positions at a distance of 10 kilometres, mortars at 14 kilometres, unguided rocket launchers at 19 kilometres, and tactical missiles at 35 kilometres.
The 1L219 Zoopark-1 radar is available in both tracked and wheeled versions. In the first case, it is mounted on the MT-LB, a Soviet amphibious armoured carrier. In the second, it is mounted on the BAZ-6909, a versatile 8x8 wheeled vehicle developed in Russia. The vehicle cabin protects the crew (consisting of a driver, radar operator, and data analyst) from small-arms fire and artillery shell fragments. It can reach a speed of up to 65 km/h, and its range is estimated at 500 kilometres.
Since its introduction, the Zoopark-1 has undergone several modernisations. The Russians have also developed several newer versions, including the Zoopark-1M artillery radar, which offers improved detection and tracking capabilities and enhanced resistance to radar jamming.
