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Starlink terminal detection radar to enter testing in Ukraine
Notebookcheck.net/news ^ | December 17, 2022 | Daniel Zlatev

Posted on 12/18/2022 11:57:29 AM PST by House Atreides

The Russian Sestroretsk arms factory claims that it has developed a Starlink terminal detection radar called Borshchevik which "is designed to detect and determine the location of Starlink terminals in a 180-degree sector at a distance of up to 10 km." Not only that, but a Russian military blogger boasted on the popular Reverse Side of the Medal Telegram channel that they will soon start testing the Borshchevik Starlink detection system on the field in Ukraine.

…SpaceX has been providing satellite Internet and terminals in Ukraine ever since, to the tune of US$100 million that Elon Musk claims will be spent just this year for the service. Recently, SpaceX asked the Pentagon to pick the tab for 2023, or else SpaceX will be on the hook for another US$380 million in Ukraine expenses next year.

… The Borshchevik Starlink terminal detection radar… may allow the army …per its manufacturer:

Direction finding and calculation by algorithms of biangulation of the location of Starlink subscriber equipment with an accuracy of 60m does not exceed 15 minutes per direction finding point. The complex has the ability to be installed on a vehicle chassis, which ensures tactical use on the contact lines. The autonomy of the complex is provided by a compact power source or the power system of the vehicle. The elements of the complex can be painted with various types of camouflage, including the use of coatings with IR remission. The processing of the received data on the location of Starlink terminals is carried out in a modern graphical interface created according to the UI / UX methodology, with the ability to connect topographic maps of the area for intuitive orientation.

(Excerpt) Read more at notebookcheck.net ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Science
KEYWORDS: notourwar; russianfantasy; starlink; ukraine
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wars have always served as an accelerant for technological development. Apparently this Ukraine war is no different. This new position detection equipment, if deployed would help locate and target Ukrainian command elements near the front lines.

Below is a link to a site with a picture of the new equipment. Following the link is an extract from that site. By the way, for those who may be unfamiliar with defense related public information, there’s an excellent chance that those aren’t real renditions of what it would look like in reality since they would not want to reveal such facts this early — particularly if they want to do actual equipment testing in the Ukrainian front lines.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMKJdaq2iYnRYvplVjCiNJg/community?lb=UgkxJcTF6erS7-GaLnpnw8I4OUKo0bITUWlH

“Russia has created a complex "Borshchevik" for hunting Starlink terminals

In Russia, tests of the Borshchevik mobile complex, designed to detect Starlink terminals, are being completed. It was developed by the private company Sestroretsk Arms Plant. The Borshchevik mobile direction-finding complex can detect the location of Starlink terminals at a distance of up to 10 kilometers with an accuracy of 60 meters. The complex can be installed on a vehicle chassis, which makes it convenient to use on the front line.

Recall that the Starlink satellite Internet system plays an important role in providing communications and control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Failures in its work, as the Western media testified earlier, quickly affect the combat capability of the Ukrainian army."

1 posted on 12/18/2022 11:57:29 AM PST by House Atreides
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To: House Atreides

Hot link to post 1 link.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMKJdaq2iYnRYvplVjCiNJg/community?lb=UgkxJcTF6erS7-GaLnpnw8I4OUKo0bITUWlH


2 posted on 12/18/2022 11:58:47 AM PST by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX.)
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To: House Atreides

Yup, that’ll work.
Tee-hee-hee.


3 posted on 12/18/2022 12:04:41 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: House Atreides

Offense/defense, point/ counter-point, battles driving innovation.


4 posted on 12/18/2022 12:09:24 PM PST by Bayard
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To: House Atreides

Russia doesn’t have squat, they’re just telling us that Starlink is hurting them.


5 posted on 12/18/2022 12:10:56 PM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: All

Time for the Ukes to change to Hughes or Wild Blue?

(well good luck with that)

If the detectors really work, (and I have no reason to doubt that that it is fairly easy to do as long as they have line of sight and the dishes are transmitting) I bet 0bama Bin Biden will be the first foreign customer, to find American Patriots in their bunkers who want to be online.


6 posted on 12/18/2022 12:13:59 PM PST by LegendHasIt
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To: House Atreides

Measure and Counter Measure. It has been that from the beginning of warfare. The Russians might find an answer but Starlink will also find one.


7 posted on 12/18/2022 12:14:35 PM PST by Destroyer Sailor (Revenge is a dish best served cold.)
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To: House Atreides

Whole terminal draws 100 watts of power from PoE and the antenna is a phased array that electronically tracks the satellite as it moves across the sky. The system is designed to maximize the RF power to the satellite, not spill it off the side where it could be intercepted by an observer. RF follows the inverse square law, so if you’re close enough to detect a milli- or micro-watt leakage signal you’re also close enough to get your ass shot or blown out of the sky.


8 posted on 12/18/2022 12:19:43 PM PST by bigbob (z)
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To: House Atreides

Ok, I’m sticking with our Spectrum router/modern combo.


9 posted on 12/18/2022 12:24:43 PM PST by moovova ("The NEXT election is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: House Atreides

No biggie. A typical evolution from that would be the creation of cheap, fake Starlink signal generators. So go ahead, Russians, spend money on taking out thousands of fakes, that run on “D” cells and cost about $10 a pop.

Likewise, the Ukrainians could set up remote antennas to send and receive the satellite signals. That is even done with wire guided antitank rockets. When they blow up an antenna, switch to Ant2 and you’re only out a few seconds.

It goes on an on. The HARM missile to take out ground radar, etc.


10 posted on 12/18/2022 12:26:12 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("All he had was a handgun. Why did you think that was a threat?" --Rittenhouse Prosecutor)
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To: House Atreides

It works both ways. if their Borshchevik Starlink terminal detection radar illuminates to try and find the starlink terminals then it can be detected and targeted itself.


11 posted on 12/18/2022 12:28:44 PM PST by GaryCrow
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To: House Atreides

HAH! The joke’s on THEM, as I’m just about to announce my Starlink detector detector!

/sarc


12 posted on 12/18/2022 12:36:25 PM PST by FrankRizzo890
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To: House Atreides; All

10 kilometers (6.2 miles) is pretty close for an accuracy of 60 meters (200 feet). Not accurate enough for a smart artillery shell...


13 posted on 12/18/2022 12:41:58 PM PST by marktwain
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To: marktwain

“ 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) is pretty close for an accuracy of 60 meters (200 feet). Not accurate enough for a smart artillery shell.”
*****************************************************************

I agree. It would likely, at best, serve as a “lead” to have other assets (e.g., drones) focused to further narrow down to a more precise location to be actually targeted kinetically. It certainly wouldn’t be a game changer… just an extra tool.


14 posted on 12/18/2022 12:50:04 PM PST by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX.)
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To: House Atreides
It certainly wouldn’t be a game changer… just an extra tool.

Agreed. Plus, there are obvious countermeasures as others have noted.

15 posted on 12/18/2022 12:51:47 PM PST by marktwain
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To: bigbob

I’m quite certain you cannot pull 100 watts over Ethernet IG that is what you meant (obviously might not be)

The fact that they are minimizing rf spill would actually serve to make the locating system more accurate (but it has to be detected in the first place)

I suspect that combined with other techniques this will work fairly well, at least for a bit


16 posted on 12/18/2022 1:36:22 PM PST by Manuel OKelley
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To: Bayard

Like the old “Spy Vs. Spy” cartoons, but with real bombs.

CC


17 posted on 12/18/2022 2:07:11 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: FtrPilot; Rokke
Since you know more about this than most of us, is there anything you can say?

My understanding is Starlink ground transmitters draw between 100 to 150 watts, more than a pair or light bulbs, less than most house hold appliances. The "Borshchevik" is a passive detector, it receives radiated radio energy. Starlinks are directional, low power, and don't have strong side lobes like radars. There are ways to hide, shield and block excess radiated signals, or just not transmit them in the first place.

The Borshchevick has a stated range of up to 10 km, which will vary under real world conditions. For years Russia has claimed how good its military hardware is, Ukraine has shown much of that is not true. This system is going to have to get close to the front lines, is a high value target, which will makes them "bomb magnets". Russia's ability to protect high value assets is mostly keeping officers in the rear alive.

My reaction is, this is not going to help the Russian army much, it is new, there are only a few of them, Ukraine has countermeasures and a good chance of taking them out.

Your thoughts (that you can share)?

18 posted on 12/18/2022 3:42:23 PM PST by Widget Jr (🇺🇦 Sláva Ukrayíni 🇺🇦 - Just say no to CCCP 2.0)
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To: MeganC

They’ve probably already gotten inquiries from Homeland Security here in the “free” USA.


19 posted on 12/18/2022 3:42:39 PM PST by glorgau
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To: Widget Jr
Thanks for the ping!

I know very little about the Starlink system, other than what you have stated:

Starlinks are directional, low power, and don't have strong side lobes

Here's some guesswork:

Starlink satellites are in low earth orbit. The antennae on the Starlink terminals "rotate" to track the satellite.

As the satellite approaches the horizon, the radio signals in both directions could be intercepted by the Borshchevik. Possibly, there is only a 5 or 10 minute window where the Borshchevik actually works.

Here's a deep dive guess:

If the system worked well, Russia would have guarded its existence. Since it is marginal, at best, Russia released the existence in hopes that Ukraine would overreact and limit communications.

20 posted on 12/18/2022 4:55:55 PM PST by FtrPilot
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