1L227 Sobolyatnik radar into service with Russian army.

A shipment of small-size 1L227 Sobolyatnik radar reconnaissance stations have come into service with reconnaissance units of a combined-arms army of the Western Military District, the District’s press service has said.

The 1L227 Sobolyatnik radar at MAKS 2013, Russia (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)

"The formation’s reconnaissance units have adopted several kits of the equipment for service. They are currently approbating them in field conditions at the Soloti range," the Western Military District went on to say.

Sobolyatnik (Sable hunter) is a multifunctional detection unit. The radar reconnaissance station is capable of detecting small-size objects at a distance of dozens of kilometers.

"The equipment of reconnaissance units with the latest technical reconnaissance means makes it possible to raise training standards for reconnaissance men who will conduct artillery reconnaissance. Despite its ultra-small weight and size the Sobolyatnik radar reconnaissance station can be used for detecting and simultaneous automatic tracking of up to 20 targets for the purpose of artillery spotting of shell paths and shell bursts," Major Maxim Gostyayev, the head of a motorized rifled reconnaissance formation of the Western Military District, said.

More than 200 reconnaissance men have learnt to operate Sobolyatnik this year.