Lithuania Provides Ukraine with Radars Capable of Tracking Cruise Missiles.

Lithuania will supply Ukraine with six AMBER 1800 radar systems as part of a German-led air defense initiative. This initiative, named Immediate Action on Air Defense, aims to rapidly deliver air defense systems by sourcing them from NATO and non-NATO countries, thus bypassing lengthy acquisition processes.
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The AMBER-1800 is a ground mobile radar operating in the VHF band, designed for automatic deployment on prepared sites. (Picture source: Altimus-Tech)

"Lithuania is contributing to the Immediate Action on Air Defense initiative, launched by our Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," announced the German Ministry of Defense. "This effort aims to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities. Lithuania's provision of six AMBER 1800 radar systems is a crucial step in protecting lives in Ukraine."

The AMBER-1800 is a ground mobile radar operating in the VHF band, designed for automatic deployment on prepared sites. It is intended for the detection of aerial targets, determination of their coordinates, and distribution of this radar information to users. The AMBER-1800 radar uses solid-state components for its transmitter and receiver.

The main functions of the AMBER-1800 include the automatic detection of aerial targets and the determination of their coordinates, such as azimuth and range. It generates and automatically tracks targets in specific areas of airspace, displaying videos, plots, and tracks. The system automatically distributes information about the air situation to users via provided data links. It can also automatically issue elevation measurement commands for aerial targets to height-finding radars and correlate the measured elevations with tracks. The radar records and stores air situations and radar operator interfaces, while controlling radar operating modes, technical monitoring, and diagnostics.

The AMBER-1800 radar system consists of two vehicles. The first vehicle houses the cabin with the main electronic equipment, while the second is a vehicle platform equipped with a leveling system, carrying the entire antenna mast assembly (AMA) and deployment system, the antenna feed system, as well as two generators.

The AMBER-1800 uses an antenna-feed system, an automatic deployment system, an automatic platform leveling system, and antenna rotation and tilt systems. The transmission and reception system, along with the processing, display, and information distribution system, are integrated with workstations for operators and remote workstations with a standard 500-meter cable. The radar also features a recording, monitoring, and diagnostic system, a power system with two generators, a transformer, an automatic load transfer unit, and a power distribution unit for the equipment cabin. Temperature control and communication systems are also part of the equipment. The semi-trailer is leveled automatically or manually by electric drives installed on the chassis.

The performance of the AMBER-1800 includes a working frequency range of 140 to 180 MHz, electronic frequency agility in discrete steps of 200 kHz, and a frequency tuning accuracy of ±10 kHz. The types of probing signals include a 6 µs amplitude-modulated signal and phase-shift keyed (PSK) signals with different durations. The transmitter's pulse power ranges between 8 kW, 10 kW, and 30 kW, with the ability for instant power and signal structure change.

The detection range varies depending on the pulse power and target altitude, reaching up to 400 km for a target at an altitude of 10,000 meters. Detection accuracy for range is 270 meters, and for azimuth is 0.4°. The range resolution is 1100 meters and the azimuth resolution is 6°. Clutter suppression is greater than 40 dB, and the receiver and digital signal processor's dynamic range is greater than 100 dB. The radar can also automatically control improved height-finding radars.

The AMBER-1800 consumes 6 kW of power, deploys or packs up in 12 minutes after installation at the operation site, and can operate in wind conditions up to 35 m/s and icing up to 10 mm. The commissioning time is 3 minutes.

Ukraine's air defense is a major concern with the intensification of Russian strikes on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine and its allies are thus striving to enhance capabilities to cope and perhaps also secure the sky for the increasingly imminent arrival of the F-16s.