The 1L125 Niobium-SV is a Russian mobile VHF/meter-band, three-coordinate radar built for ground-forces air defense and developed by NNIIRT within the Almaz-Antey group. Rosoboronexport's 1L125E export profile describes a 5-500 km, 360-degree surveillance radar for detecting, tracking, identifying, and reporting aerodynamic and ballistic targets, including low-observable aircraft; Ukrainian and sanctions-derived records identify Niobium-SV radars in Russian service during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russian forces have used 1L125 Niobium-SV radars as part of their air-defense network during the Russia-Ukraine war; Ukrainian official, sanctions-derived, and open-source loss reporting documents strikes or losses involving Niobium-SV radars in Kharkiv region, occupied Crimea, Donetsk/Donbas, and Luhansk Oblast.
Role detailsNiobium-SV is described in open sources as a mobile radar for Russian ground-forces air defense, with the 1L125 equipment placed on road-mobile chassis rather than fixed radar sites. Rosoboronexport's 1L125E profile describes automated deployment of the antenna-hardware complex and tasks that include three-coordinate measurement, tracking, nationality determination, identification, interference-source direction finding, and issuing radar information to users.
Meter-band / VHF three-coordinate surveillance radar.
Aircraft, helicopters, cruise and ballistic missiles, UAVs, and low-observable targets.
Reported deployment time is 10-15 minutes, with a three-person crew.
Complements radar coverage and can feed air-defense command systems and missile batteries.
Niobium-SV is part of the post-Soviet Nebo/Niobium radar lineage, with 1L125 adapted for Russian ground-forces air-defense requirements.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1L125E | Export/display designation | Rosoboronexport lists 1L125E as the export meter-band radar designation, and the Commons display photograph identifies the Army-2016 vehicle as a 1L125E radar. Sources: Rosoboronexport 1L125E Product Page, Wikimedia Commons Army2016 1L125E Image |
 | Earlier transportable VHF Nebo-family radar | bmpd places the 1L125 Niobium-SV after the Nebo, Nebo-U, Nebo-SV, and 1L119 Nebo-SVU family line in NNIIRT development. Sources: bmpd Niobium-SV Procurement |
 | Earlier ground-forces mobile VHF radar lineage | bmpd places the 1L125 Niobium-SV after the Nebo, Nebo-U, Nebo-SV, and 1L119 Nebo-SVU family line in NNIIRT development. Sources: bmpd Niobium-SV Procurement |
 | Earlier mobile VHF radar lineage | bmpd places the 1L125 Niobium-SV after the Nebo, Nebo-U, Nebo-SV, and 1L119 Nebo-SVU family line in NNIIRT development. Sources: bmpd Niobium-SV Procurement |
Niobium-SV is a sensor, not a missile launcher. Its battlefield value is in extending radar coverage and feeding target data into layered Russian air-defense networks.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Long-range surface-to-air missile system family | The November 2025 GUR-reported Donbas strike hit two 1L125 Niobium-SV radars alongside a 9A83 launcher from the S-300V air-defense system, illustrating its use around long-range SAM coverage. |
 | Short-range point-defense SAM/gun system | Russian MoD-linked reporting described Pantsir-S1 systems covering a Niobium-SV radar position within a layered air-defense layout. Sources: TopWar Niobium-SV Combat Use |
bmpd reported that Russian procurement documents covered six 1L125 Niobium-SV meter-band standby radars for 2017-2018 delivery.
Sources: bmpd Niobium-SV Procurement
The Commons image record identifies the photographed Army-2016 system as a 1L125E radar.
Sources: Wikimedia Commons Army2016 1L125E Image
Militarnyi reported official video of Ukraine's 14th UAV Regiment striking a Russian Niobium-SV radar in Kharkiv region during summer 2024.
Sources: Militarnyi Kharkiv Niobium-SV Strike
The War Zone and Ukrainian Pravda reported a GUR-claimed attack sequence in occupied Crimea that listed two 1L125 Niobium-SV radars among the Russian air-defense and radar assets hit.
Sources: The War Zone Crimea Air Defense Strike, Ukrainian Pravda Crimea Radar Strike
GUR published video of Ukrainian UJ-26 Bober drone attacks in occupied Crimea and said the targets included a Niobium-SV radar at Saky; Radio Liberty reported the same GUR claim while noting that Russian authorities had not confirmed the loss.
Sources: GUR Bober Crimea Niobium-SV Video, Radio Liberty Saky Niobium-SV Strike
GUR reported that its Prymary unit struck Russian air-defense assets on the Donetsk axis, including two Niobium-SV radar stations alongside Podlet radars, S-300V launchers, and a P-18 radar.
Sources: GUR Prymary Donbas Niobium-SV Strike
Interfax-Ukraine and Defense Express reported a GUR drone operation that destroyed a 9A83 S-300V launcher and two 1L125 Niobium-SV radar stations in Donbas.
Sources: Interfax GUR Donbas Niobium-SV Strike, Defense Express Donbas Niobium-SV Strike
Ukrainska Pravda reported a Ukrainian General Staff confirmation that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian 1L125 Niobiy-SV radar station near Yarsk in Luhansk Oblast.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Yarsk Niobiy-SV Strike
