On 15 February 1971, a separate missile observation division entered combat duty according to the order of the USSR Minister of Defense. This day is commemorated as the anniversary of the national missile attack warning system.
The concept of the missile attack warning system adopted in 1972 integrated the existing radars with the newly deployed missile defense means of the city of Moscow. V.G. Repin was appointed the first designer of the integrated missile attack warning system (MAWS).
Apart from the main line of defense of MAWS consisting of ground radars, the missile attack warning system includes a space line of defense consisting of a spacecraft constellation and considerably expanding the system’s capabilities.
History of missile attack warning system (MAWS) deployment in the USSR and Russia
- 1954 - development of a missile defense system for the city of Moscow (А-35) commenced in the Soviet Union, far range radars to become its key element
- 1956 - Decree “On missile defense” issued by the Central Communist Party Committee and USSR Council of Ministers
A.L. Mints was appointed the first chief designer of the far range radars. Under his leadership, the first research on ballistic missile detection and construction of the first Dnestr-М far range radars were carried out.
In the 1960s, there was a gap between surging development of strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles and the lack of equipment for their detection and warning of potential nuclear missile attacks. The USSR was far behind the US in the development of powerful radars. Three radar stations had been built by that time by the US in England, Greenland and Alaska, enabling monitoring of the launch positions of USSR intercontinental ballistic missiles in the entire USSR territory.
The country leadership decided to resolve this pressing issue through the capabilities of the Radio Industry Ministry.
On 25 August 1970, the missile attack warning system was adopted for service. It was capable of detecting intercontinental ballistic missile launches from the territory of the USA, the Norwegian and Northern Seas. The main goal of the missile attack warning system at that stage was to provide the missile defense system with information about missile attacks. At the same time, the Missile Attack Warning Center was established in Solnechnogorsk. On 15 February 1971, a dedicated missile observation division entered combat duty according to the order of the USSR Minister of Defense. This day is commemorated as the anniversary of the Soviet and Russian missile attack warning system.
The concept of the missile attack warning system adopted in 1972 integrated the existing and newly deployed missile defense means. As part of this program, Dunay-3 (Kubinka) and Dunay-3U (Chekhov) radars from the Moscow city missile defense system were included in the warning system. V.G. Repin was appointed the chief designer of the integrated missile attack warning system (MAWS).
In 1974, the modernized Dnepr type radar at Balkhash was commissioned. It had enhanced elevation measurement accuracy and low elevation operation, increased range and throughput. Later the radar in Olenegorsk was modernized according to the Dnepr project; radar stations in Mishelevka, Skrunda, Sevastopol and Mukachevo were built.
The first stage of the integrated system that included the separate radiotechnical stations in Olenegorsk, Skrunda, Balkhash and Mishelevka, entered combat duty on 29 October 1976. The second stage that included the stations
in Sevastopol and Mukachevo entered combat duty on 16 January 1979. These stations provided a wider sector of surveillance of the warning system, expanding it to the Northern Atlantic and Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
In the 1980s, new means were included in the missile warning system:
- DARYAL RADAR STATION (Gabala, Pechora),
- DNEPR RADAR STATION (Mukachevo, Sevastopol),
- DUGA PREFABRICATED RADAR STATION (Nikolayev, Chernobyl, Komsomolsk-on-Amur),
- US-K space-based system (Serpukhov),
- KROKUS complex of warning information communication means.
In 2003, the VOLGA radar entered combat duty. Transition to a principally new type of highly prefabricated radar stations (HP RS) begins, along with the development of a new global space system for detection of ballistic missile launches (Joint Space System).
Since 2006, new VORONEZH highly prefabricated radar stations have been entered in operation.
VORONEZH helped restore the integrity of the continuous radar field partially lost after the USSR dissolution.
Since 2012 and until present, Sergey Boyev has been the chief designer of the missile attack warning system.