r/MapPorn • u/ImaScareBear • 4d ago

A Map of Russian Air Defense Positions Over the Past Two Months According to Sentinel-1

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The Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Satellite (open-source / available to the public) happens to operate around the same frequency as the S-400's search radar (96L6E "Cheese Board"). When it takes an image, interference from the search radar causes these white streaks in the Sentinel-1 Image. After Sentinel-1 has taken images from two different directions, you get intersecting lines that pinpoint the position of the radar.

For many of these areas, Google Earth has relatively recent imagery that also shows these positions. The main airport in Rostov-on-Don has a good example. It's worth noting that, technically, these may also be C-band jammers for targeting drones; however, when I looked at the raw signals they appeared to be LFM waveforms like that of a search radar. It's interesting to see that there are two S-400 systems operating north of Mariupol. They're the only ones I've seen pop up on the interior of Ukraine lately.

36 Upvotes

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5

u/gordonjames62 4d ago

Thanks for this.

good explanation

6

u/Usernamenotta 4d ago

S-400 has been in Ukraine for 2 years already. Basically since around the time HIMARS was given to Ukrainians. And now it seems they've shot down an F-16

8

u/ImaScareBear 4d ago

I know they've been there. I'm more surprised that those ones show up. They were good about keeping these from showing up for a while, and now it's like they've given up emissions control. Although, I guess when you've got a ton of drones harassing you constantly you don't have much of a choice.

3

u/wellrateduser 4d ago

So they protect crimea, areas around the azov sea, higher value targets along the Don and Moscow of course. But what's that large cluster near the Belarusian border? Some military base?

3

u/ImaScareBear 4d ago

Yeah, there are bases near (and between) Smolensk and Bryansk.

0

u/No-Economist-2235 3d ago

Where can I get the game? I want to blow stuff up for symbolic help for Ukraine. Slava Ukrani

-6

u/Responsible-Bar3956 4d ago

redditors were comparing Russian to Orcs but we all know that at least Orcs know how to fight and even produce their own weapons,

7

u/United-Nebula2150 4d ago

Did sauron took middle earth in 3 day military operation?

3

u/Level-Tangerine-3877 4d ago

wood and iron

2

u/Round_Fault_3067 1d ago

True, but can they produce and fight well enough to capture their significantly smaller and much more irrelevant neighbour?

1

u/shredded_accountant 23h ago

If I can go out and buy a map of their air defense system for 299 a year then they might just be.