Air Force Wants Super Realistic Mock Launchers So It Can Replicate An S-300 SAM System
This follows the acquisition of two mobile radars from Ukraine in the past year, including one associated with the S-300.
By Joseph Trevithick September 3, 2019
The U.S. Air Force wants to buy two life-size mock transporter-erector-launchers, or TELs, that mimic the physical look, as well as radar and other signatures, of those associated with Russia's S-300PMU-1 and -2 air defense systems. The service needs them to support realistic training exercises and test events within the sprawling Utah Test and Training Range, or UTTR. The planned purchases may be related to the U.S. military's acquisition of at least two mobile radars from Ukraine in the past year or so that may be related to the S-300.
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) says it expects to issue a formal solicitation to buy the "high-fidelity SA-20 transport/erector/launcher (TEL) surrogates" later in September 2019. It had first announced it was interested in buying the faux TELs on Aug. 29, 2019. SA-20 is a designation the U.S. military and NATO use that covers both the S-300PMU-1 and -2, which are also sometimes referred to as the SA-20A and SA-20B respectively.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/29659/air-force-wants-super-realistic-mock-launchers-so-it-can-replicate-an-s-300-sam-system
