SON-9
SON-9 (NATO reporting name Fire Can) is a type of Russian/Soviet fire director radar for air defence guns including the 57 mm, 85mm,[1] and 100 mm, and 130mm anti-aircraft guns.[2] The design was based on an older SON-4 Soviet design that was in turn based on a US-origin SCR-584 system, the plans for which were provided to the USSR during the second world war. It was used in combination with the PUAZO 6/60 fire director.[3][4]
 A SON-9 gun laying radar, AutoVAZ Technical Museum | |
| Country of origin | Soviet Union |
|---|---|
| Type | E-band, trailer-mounted |
| Frequency | 2700-2900 MHz |
| PRF | 1840-1900 pps |
| Beamwidth | 5 degrees (search mode) |
| Pulsewidth | 0.3-0.8 microsec |
| Power | 300kw (peak) |
| Other Names | Fire Can |
Operational service
It was widely employed during the Vietnam war, with as many as 75 of them being deployed at one point.[4] Its range of 50 nautical miles was considered useful but the lack of a moving target indicator on the viewing scope complicated the task of tracking fast-moving, low-flying targets. It was also more vulnerable to jamming than newer designs available during the Vietnam war. In use it was van-mounted, and could be used to direct the fire of 4-8 guns.[5]
A captured example of the SON-9 was used by NOTS (Naval Ordnance Test Station) engineers to develop simulator SON-9 radars for training against.[6]
References
- Foss, Christopher F. (1974). Artillery of the World. Ian Allan Ltd. p. 84. ISBN 0711005052. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- Foss, Christopher F. (1974). Artillery of the World. Ian Allan Ltd. pp. 82–83. ISBN 0711005052. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- Foss, Christopher F. (1974). Artillery of the World. Ian Allan Ltd. p. 185. ISBN 0711005052. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- Pretty, R.T. (1979). Jane's weapon systems 1979-80: 10th ed. Jane's Yearbooks. p. 508. ISBN 035400574X. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- Nalty, Bernard C. (2013). Tactics and Techniques of Electronic Warfare. Defense Lion Publications. p. 11. ISBN 9781939335180. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- Lawson, Cliff (2017). The Station Comes of Age Satellites, Submarines, and Special Operations in the Final Years of the Naval Ordnance Test Station, 1959-1967. NAWCWD. p. 378. ISBN 9780160939709. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
