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Missile Defense Radar Sites

During the Cold War, both the United States and Russia built elaborate systems of spy satellites, radars, and computer networks to scan the skies for ballistic missiles and their deadly nuclear warheads. The US systems were pointed at the Soviet Union and the Soviet systems watched the Americas.

Many radars no longer operate or suffer power outages. Only three of the nine modern large phased-array radars are in service. Three have been deactivated or never completed, and three are inoperable or barely functional. Seven of the ten older, less capable Hen House radars are outside Russia in former Soviet republics, and some may be shut down for political reasons. The Soviet radar system was being modernized when the country fell apart. One of the new replacement radars, in Latvia, was torn down in May 1995. Russia won a temporary reprieve against closing two older radars in Latvia, but that agreement expired in August 1998 and Latvia announced it would not let Russia renew. The radar was one of those covering the critical northwestern direction. Other radars used by Russia have been left in Ukraine, at Mykolayiv and Mukacheve; in Azerbaijan, at Mingacevir; and Kazakhstan, at Balqash. Some are functioning, but there have been disputes over finances and personnel. Russian authorities hope to complete an unfinished radar in Belarus to compensate for the loss in Latvia, but the prospects are uncertain.

Pechora LPAR

Hen House LPAR

Locale System Military
District Country Lat Long Start IOC Comments

Angarsk Hen House Transbaikal Russia N 52 34 E 103 54 1960 11 radars at 6 locations

Baranovichi (Minsk) Pechora 9 Byelorussian Byelorussia N 53 08 E 25 59 1986 3rd in 1986 (NY Post 5 Dec 86)

Chekhov Cat House Moscow Russia N 55 23 E 36 43 1974

Kiev [Chernobyl] Steel Yard Kiev Ukraine 51°16'N 30°14'E

Komsomolsk-na-Amur Steel Yard Far East Russia

Krasnoyarsk/Yeniseysk Pechora 6 Siberian Russia N 58 08 E 92 44 1983

Kubinka Dog House Moscow Russia 55°31'N 36°39E

Lyaki Pechora 5 N. Caucasus Azerbaijan N 40 33 E 47 25 1982 1987

Michelevka (Irkutsk) Pechora 3 Transbaikal Russia N 52 34 E 103 09 1979 ?1984 incomplete as of 1999

Mukachevo Pechora 8 Carpathian Ukraine N 48 27 E 22 42 1986 1991 Mothballed (FBIS 22 Aug 90)

Nakhoda Irida OTH Far East Russia N 42 49 E 132 52 [air defense OTH-B]

Nikolaeyev Steel Yard Odessa Ukraine N 46 58 E 32 02 China coverage

Nikolaeyev Hen House Odessa Ukraine N 46 58 E 32 02 1960 11 radars at 6 locations

Nikolaeyev (Lvov) Hen House Carpathian Ukraine N 49 46 E 24 20 1960 11 radars at 6 locations

Olenegorsk Hen House Leningrad Russia N 68 09 E 33 18 1960 11 radars at 6 locations

Olenegorsk Pechora 4 Leningrad Russia N 68 09 E 33 18 1982 1987

Pechora Pechora 2 Ural Russia N 65 14 E 57 18 1978 1983

Pushkino Pill Box Moscow Russia 56°12'N 37°45'E

Sevastopol Pechora 10 Odessa Ukraine N E 1988 1993 2 new radars reported in Dec 1988

Sary Shagan Hen Egg Central Asian Kazahkstan N 46 12 E 73 48

Sary Shagan Hen Nest Central Asian Kazahkstan N 46 12 E 73 48

Sary Shagan Hen Roost Central Asian Kazahkstan N 46 12 E 73 48

Sary Shagan Hen House Central Asian Kazahkstan N 46 12 E 73 48 1960 11 radars at 6 locations

Sary Shagan Pechora 1 Central Asian Kazahkstan N 46 12 E 73 48 1977 1982

Skrunda (Riga) Hen House Baltic Latvia N 56 41 E 22 01 1960 11 radars at 6 locations

Skrunda (Riga) Pechora 7 Baltic Latvia N 56 41 E 22 01 1986 1991 2nd in 1996 (Wash Times 18 Aug 86)

Locale	System	Military District	Country	Lat	Long	Start	IOC	Comments
Angarsk	Hen House	Transbaikal	Russia	N 52 34	E 103 54		1960	11 radars at 6 locations
Baranovichi (Minsk)	Pechora 9	Byelorussian	Byelorussia	N 53 08	E 25 59	1986		3rd in 1986 (NY Post 5 Dec 86)
Chekhov	Cat House	Moscow	Russia	N 55 23	E 36 43		1974
Kiev [Chernobyl]	Steel Yard	Kiev	Ukraine	51°16'N	30°14'E
Komsomolsk-na-Amur	Steel Yard	Far East	Russia
Krasnoyarsk/Yeniseysk	Pechora 6	Siberian	Russia	N 58 08	E 92 44	1983
Kubinka	Dog House	Moscow	Russia	55°31'N	36°39E
Lyaki	Pechora 5	N. Caucasus	Azerbaijan	N 40 33	E 47 25	1982	1987
Michelevka (Irkutsk)	Pechora 3	Transbaikal	Russia	N 52 34	E 103 09	1979	?1984	incomplete as of 1999
Mukachevo	Pechora 8	Carpathian	Ukraine	N 48 27	E 22 42	1986	1991	Mothballed (FBIS 22 Aug 90)
Nakhoda	Irida OTH	Far East	Russia	N 42 49	E 132 52			[air defense OTH-B]
Nikolaeyev	Steel Yard	Odessa	Ukraine	N 46 58	E 32 02			China coverage
Nikolaeyev	Hen House	Odessa	Ukraine	N 46 58	E 32 02		1960	11 radars at 6 locations
Nikolaeyev (Lvov)	Hen House	Carpathian	Ukraine	N 49 46	E 24 20		1960	11 radars at 6 locations
Olenegorsk	Hen House	Leningrad	Russia	N 68 09	E 33 18		1960	11 radars at 6 locations
Olenegorsk	Pechora 4	Leningrad	Russia	N 68 09	E 33 18	1982	1987
Pechora	Pechora 2	Ural	Russia	N 65 14	E 57 18	1978	1983
Pushkino	Pill Box	Moscow	Russia	56°12'N	37°45'E
Sevastopol	Pechora 10	Odessa	Ukraine	N	E	1988	1993	2 new radars reported in Dec 1988
Sary Shagan	Hen Egg	Central Asian	Kazahkstan	N 46 12	E 73 48
Sary Shagan	Hen Nest	Central Asian	Kazahkstan	N 46 12	E 73 48
Sary Shagan	Hen Roost	Central Asian	Kazahkstan	N 46 12	E 73 48
Sary Shagan	Hen House	Central Asian	Kazahkstan	N 46 12	E 73 48		1960	11 radars at 6 locations
Sary Shagan	Pechora 1	Central Asian	Kazahkstan	N 46 12	E 73 48	1977	1982
Skrunda (Riga)	Hen House	Baltic	Latvia	N 56 41	E 22 01		1960	11 radars at 6 locations
Skrunda (Riga)	Pechora 7	Baltic	Latvia	N 56 41	E 22 01	1986	1991	2nd in 1996 (Wash Times 18 Aug 86)

Russian news reports indicate the presence of a radar facility at Solnechnogorsk [56°11'00"N 36°59'00"E], which is rather far from any reported radar location.

Sources and Methods

All Quiet at `Shipka'? Radar Stations Impact Human Health , ZELENYY SVITF!, August 1994
Command and Control System and Its Current Status by Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies at MIPT
Silent Space Is Being Monitored, Lieutenant Colonel Boris Kononenko, ARMEYSKIY SBORNIK, June 96 -- A Discussion of Russia's Outer Space Monitoring System.
Russia Must Fully Fund Two Missile Warning Stations , Interfax, 3/3/1997 -- Russia will have to finance two missile attack warning stations in Ukraine near Mukachevo, Transcarpathia, and near Sevastopol, Crimea, in full.
Acting Defense Minister Visits Missile Defense Unit , Mikhail Shevtsov , ITAR-TASS, 4/22/1998

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