Russia nears completion of giant over-the-horizon radar in Kaliningrad, reports say

What the reports say

Russia is close to finishing a large over-the-horizon (OTH) radar complex in Kaliningrad, the exclave between Poland and Lithuania, according to reports published on 2 November. Deutsche Welle, citing several sources, says the installation could monitor much of Europe and possibly intercept satellite communications. Moscow has not confirmed that it is building the structure. Retired Lithuanian commander Vaidotas Malinionis told Deutsche Welle that the planned radar would be large enough to see beyond the curvature of the Earth.

Location and layout

The complex lies near Gvardeysk, about 37 km from the Polish border, according to a report that cites Deutsche Welle and the Moscow Times. Satellite images from ICEYE show three rows of antennas, each more than 500 metres long, and RMF24 reports that the site is surrounded by a double fence. Defence24 says work on the Gvardeysk site and on a second structure near Chernyakhovsk began in March 2023. It describes the second structure as a ring more than 1.6 km across, and analysts cited by Defence24 consider it possible that both sites form part of one system. Defence24 also links the Gvardeysk site to a Russian system known as 29B6 Kontener, whose main unit is in Mordovia and has already been a target of Ukrainian attacks.

Range and capabilities

Malinionis told Deutsche Welle that the Gvardeysk network would have a surveillance range of about 3,000 km, enough to cover nearly all of Europe and all of Ukraine. RMF24 adds that this range would take in Poland, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Reports say the system could intercept satellite communications and track aircraft movements and ballistic missile launches, although Malinionis said it is not yet known whether the radar can operate at that level. OTH radars detect objects beyond direct line of sight by bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere, RMF24 explains. Earlier, the Russian military said the Kontener radar could track up to 10,000 air targets at once, including F-35 stealth fighters. The Times has reported, citing the Finnish-Polish space and defence technology firm ICEYE, that such systems are built mainly to detect and jam electronic signals.

Warnings from analysts

Malinionis said the radar could also be used in offensive operations to gather more information on specific targets. He added that early warning of NATO troop movements in the event of an attack on the alliance's eastern flank would give Russia more time to make decisions. Latvian analyst Evija Djatkovica told Deutsche Welle that reviving this Soviet-era technology would be a notable disadvantage for NATO as new technologies play a growing role in modern warfare. She said the system could help Russia detect low-flying objects and drones more effectively. Djatkovica warned that the situation is potentially dangerous, that militarization could increase on both sides, and that a preventive attack could at some point become an option.

Construction timeline

The timeline below combines the start of construction reported by Defence24 with the 2 November reporting from Deutsche Welle.