[REVISION HISTORY]

Russian radar and military expansion in Kaliningrad

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2026-11-02 09:32 UTC → 2026-11-04 06:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Satellite imagery has revealed the construction of a large over-the-horizon (OTH) radar installation in Gvardeysk, located within the Kaliningrad exclave near the borders of Poland and Lithuania. The facility features three antenna arrays, each approximately 500 meters long, and is designed to detect ballistic missiles, aircraft, and ship movements at distances between 900 and 3,000 kilometers. As construction nears completion, security expert Vaidotas Malinionis states the system could allow Russia to monitor military activities across much of Europe, including Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukrainian territory. The radar is designed to detect targets beyond the Earth's curvature, which could include satellite communications. The system is believed to be similar to the Russian 29B6 Konteyner system, which uses shortwave radio waves reflected off the ionosphere. Military analysts suggest the technology could simultaneously track up to 10,000 aerial targets, including F-35 fighter jets. Beyond surveillance, the facility is reportedly intended to serve as an electronic warfare hub. Reports based on data from the space company ICEYE suggest the complex will be used to detect and jam electronic signals. Analysts note that the technology could reduce the effectiveness of regional drone ~~defenses, such as NATO drones,~~ defenses by improving the detection of low-flying objects. Recent imagery has also identified additional military infrastructure in the region, including electronic warfare objects, new fighter jet shelters, and S-400 defense system platforms. Furthermore, a second large radar structure, shaped like a ring with a diameter exceeding 1,600 meters, is reportedly being constructed near Chernyakhovsk.

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