BILL BOARD - Acquisition Radar

Frequency (Freq) [MHz] 2200 - 2300 (S-band)

Pulse Width (PW) [us] 2
Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) [Hz] 400/800
Pulse Repetition Interval (PRI) [us] 1250/2500
Peak Power [kw] 2.0
Average Power [kw] 2 3
Displayed Range [km] 400
Range Resolution [m] 300
Mainlobe Width [degree] 1.5
Sweep Rate [RPM] 4 5
Deploy/Stow Time [min] About 60




Pic 1 fully mobile 9S15/9S15M Obzor 3 / Bill Board acquisition radar
Descriptions
The fully mobile 9S15/9S15M Obzor 3 / Bill Board acquisition radar is a mechanically rotated 3D
radar system, with electronic beam steering in elevation and an IFF array. It provides long range
early warning of aerial threats and low end TBMs such as the Scud A and Lance for the S-
300V/VM / SA-12/23 Giant/Gladiator SAM systems.

There are a number of configurations, associated with specific block upgrades to the S-300V /
SA-12 series system, including a variant specific to the S-300VM / SA-23 system, the
9S15MV/MVZ
The 9S15 has two basic modes of operation. The first is optimised for a 12 second sweep and is
claimed to provide a 50% probability of detecting a fighter sized target at 130 nautical miles.
The second mode employs a faster 6 second sweep period, and is used to detect inbound TBMs
and aircraft, with a reduced detection range of about 80 nautical miles for fighters, and 50 to 60
nautical miles for TBMs like the Scud A or Lance.
Cited range against aerial targets for the improved Bill Board B is in excess of 170 nautical miles
for fighters.
Russian sources are unusually detailed on ECCM techniques used, claiming the use of three
auxiliary receiver channels for cancelling sidelobe jamming, automatic wind compensated
rejection of chaff returns, and provisions in the MTI circuits to reject jamming. A facility for
precise angular measurement of jamming emitters is included. RMS tracking errors are quoted at
250 metres in range and about 0.5 degrees in azimuth/elevation, with the ability to track up to
200 targets.
Cited RF performance for the baseline 9S15M is an average power of 8 kiloWatts produced by a
TWT, and receiver sensitivity of 10-13 Watts.
The system has an integral gas turbine electrical power generator for autonomous operation - a
feature of most S-300V components.
This radar provides a highly mobile 3D search and acquisition capability, but is limited in low
level coverage footprint by its antenna elevation. Its limited scan rate makes it unusable for high
performance IRBM acquisition and tracking, which is the primary role of the 9S19 High Screen
radar.