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]
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 |
The SON-9 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]