Russia Celebrates New $250 Million Radar System: Hours Later, It's Blown Up By Ukraine

The Russian military could hardly contain their excitement when they finally received their $250 million Yastreb-AV radar system on the battlefield in Ukraine. The system was intended to aid Russia in their invasion of Ukraine, but the joy was short-lived. Ukraine managed to destroy the $250 million system just hours after the Russians themselves had announced its arrival.

Russia had promoted this state-of-the-art system, designed to detect the trajectory of incoming artillery and determine the point of origin for munitions, as a modern and highly capable asset. The Yastreb-AV was reportedly tested in late 2021 or early 2022 and was hailed by Moscow as a significant advancement​​​​.

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces disclosed on Facebook that they had located the Yastreb-AV during a reconnaissance mission, although the specific battlefield location remains undisclosed.

The Ukrainian forces then engaged the target with munitions from a US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), resulting in the radar system being destroyed by fire damage. This action was publicized by Kyiv across multiple social media channels​​.

Counter-battery radar systems like the Yastreb-AV have been pivotal for both sides in the ongoing war, marked by relentless and brutal artillery engagements. These systems are critical for detecting incoming projectiles and swiftly identifying their origin, allowing for prompt counterstrikes before enemy artillery can be relocated​​.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has been utilizing Western-provided systems, such as the US-provided AN/TPQ-36 radars, significantly aiding their counter-battery efforts​​. The destruction of the Yastreb-AV, shortly after its deployment was publicized, underscores the intense and dynamic nature of the conflict, highlighting the strategic and technological battlefields at play.

This incident occurred amidst other significant military activities, including a massive missile and drone attack launched by Russian forces across Ukraine, causing civilian and military casualties​