Air Defense: October 20, 2001

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Russia is marketing a new air defense system called Phoenix. This can be fitted to a truck chassis, armored vehicle, fixed bunker, or vessels of various sizes. The major selling point is that this is a passive system; it detects aircraft without being detected. It can detect missiles at 5-7 kilometers, helicopters at 8-9 kilometers, fighters at 15-18 kilometers, and cargo planes at over 20 kilometers. Phoenix can track 50 targets at the same time. The system is designed to carry two quad missile launchers with "shoulder-fired" missiles such as the SA-16 or SA-18. The mounting also has two 7.62mm machineguns for local defense.--Stephen V Cole