P-30
Russian Air Defense Forces

P-30
NATO: Big Mesh
Operator: 11th Air and Air Defense Forces Army PVO
Location: Eastern Military District
Timeframe: 1993-94

Personal interest:
This model represents a Russian P-30 Crystal early warning ground control and interception radar. The P-30 was near its end of life during my service with the US Air Force in Alaska, but a few were still in operation. Earlier interceptors like the Su-15, MiG-23 and MiG-25 were dependent on Ground Control Intercept (GCI) tactics, requiring the PVO to maintain dense radar coverage. This could explain continued use of the 1950s vintage radar until newer aircraft like the MiG-31 and Su-27, which were not dependent upon GCI, became more prevalent.