On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Military Electronic Works (WZE) from Zielonka, part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), signed a contract with the 12th Military Logistic Unit (12. WOG) from Toruń for the repair and modification of the RT-21 Daniela (NUR-21) low-flying target detection radar station.
Photo: PIT-Radwar
According to the terms of the contract, the repair is to be completed by the end of 2024.
In previous years, the manufacturer of the station, PIT-Radwar from Warsaw, which is part of PGZ, carried out modernizations of the military’s sets to the NUR-21MK standard – a total of 17 stations. Meanwhile, WZE handled pre-modernization modifications.
Description
The NUR-21MK station is a medium-range radar operating in the S-band, designed for airspace monitoring, and detecting and tracking object trajectories. The combat capabilities of the station, particularly features such as high mobility and the ability to transmit data via radio, are aligned with its primary application: supporting air defense systems for operational forces.
The NUR-21MK determines the azimuth, distance, and affiliation of detected objects. The station’s equipment is mounted on an armored tracked chassis SPG-1/M, based on the licensed Soviet artillery tractor MT-S (Object 306), later incorporating elements of the T-72M tank, adapted for driving in particularly difficult terrain.
It is powered by a multi-fuel W46-2S1 diesel engine with 710 horsepower, providing a maximum speed of up to 65 km/h. The vehicle is 7.8 meters long, 3.35 meters wide, 3.2 meters high (in marching position with the antenna folded), and has a ground clearance of 0.42 meters. Its only armament is a 12.7 mm machine gun. The entire system weighs 34.5 tons and has a crew of 4 soldiers.
The operation of the radar is controlled from the main operator station located in the operational cabin (technical compartment) or from an auxiliary station in the vehicle cabin, which can also serve as an external station. Data on objects detected by the radar are transmitted to cooperating elements of the air defense system via radio or, in the case of stationary operation, via wired communication.
The NUR-21MK station detects various types of airborne objects, such as airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The radar allows for the automatic detection and tracking of approximately 100 targets at a distance of up to 100 km. Additionally, the radar station is equipped with an ISZ-50 interrogator, enabling identification friend or foe (IFF) in Mode 5. The NUR-21MK station can operate both autonomously and integrated into an air defense system. Its communication and data transmission systems (both radio and wired) enable cooperation with external elements (linked air defense components) within the automated command systems of the Land Forces (such as Łowcza-Rega) and the air defense command systems.
Currently, 17 NUR-21M and NUR-21MK radar stations are in operation within the Air Defense Forces (WOPL) of the Land Forces.
12 Wojskowy Oddział Gospodarczy z Torunia w dniu 17.07.2024 podpisał umowę z Wojskowymi Zakładami Elektronicznymi S.A. na przeprowadzenie naprawy wynikowej wraz z modyfikacją stacji radiolokacyjnej RT-21 (NUR-21). pic.twitter.com/LmQJatKR10
— PGZ_WZE_SA (@PGZ_WZE_SA) July 17, 2024