The 1L277 Sobolyatnik is a Russian man-portable ground reconnaissance radar built for small-unit surveillance, target classification, and artillery-fire adjustment. Sources describe a two-person, 36 kg system with an electronically scanned phased-array antenna, sector scanning without mechanical antenna movement, short setup time, and the ability to track up to 20 targets.
Russian forces have been documented using and losing 1L277 Sobolyatnik radars in Ukraine, including Russian front-line reports from 2022 and 2024, a photo-documented destroyed example, and Ukrainian official reporting of a National Guard strike on a Sobolyatnik.
Role detailsThe Sobolyatnik sits in the small-unit reconnaissance and artillery-observation layer rather than the air-defense radar layer. Public sources describe a portable radar that can classify ground targets, track multiple objects, support artillery adjustment, and work alongside UAV operators.
The complete system is described as a 36 kg set transportable and operated by a two-person crew, with Russian military media describing setup or pack-up in about five minutes or less.
Published specifications list simultaneous tracking of up to 20 targets with 10 m range resolution, including personnel and vehicle-size target classes.
Radar reference data describes an adjustable 60 to 120 degree scan sector, 18 degrees of elevation coverage, and a 4.5 degree beamwidth without mechanical antenna movement.
Defense reporting describes use for artillery reconnaissance, including spotting shell paths and bursts and passing coordinates for counter-battery fire.
Armeyskiy Standart describes crews operating the radar from prepared positions and, when needed, from vehicles or armored vehicles to improve mobility.
Ukraine's GUR War & Sanctions database identifies a power-supply subsystem entry associated with the 1L277 Sobolyatnik. The record lists an MTC1528S15 power supply, names XP Power as the manufacturer, and gives the manufacturer's headquarters country as Great Britain.
Power supply subsystem for a portable solid-state ground-target reconnaissance radar.
MTC1528S15 power supply, with partial serial and channel markings shown in the database entry.
The War & Sanctions component entry is dated 2024-06-01.
Russian reference sources use Sobolyatnik and Sobolyatnik-O for the 1L277 portable ground-reconnaissance radar.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1L277 Sobolyatnik-O | Alternate designation | A Tula historical encyclopedia entry on NPO Strela lists RLS 1L277 (Sobolyatnik-O) among significant Strela products. |
Army Recognition reported that Almaz-Antey publicly unveiled the Sobolyatnik at the MAKS-2013 defense exhibition.
Sources: Army Recognition 2020 Airborne Forces Sobolyatnik
Army Recognition reported Western Military District press-service claims that several 1L227 Sobolyatnik radar reconnaissance kits had entered service with reconnaissance units and were being tested at the Soloti range.
Sources: Army Recognition 2018 Western Military District Sobolyatnik
Russian defense reporting cited by Army Recognition said close to ten Sobolyatnik sets were planned for Russian Airborne Forces formations in 2020.
Sources: Army Recognition 2020 Airborne Forces Sobolyatnik, TASS 2020 Russian Army Deliveries
A Russian equipment profile reports the 1L277 Sobolyatnik entering Russian Army service in February 2021.
Sources: Vooryzhenie 1L277 Sobolyatnik Profile
NTV described Russian forces demonstrating a Sobolyatnik radar in the war zone, including target classification, artillery-fire correction, and coordinate transfer to artillery units.
Sources: NTV 2022 Sobolyatnik Frontline Report
RIA Novosti cited Russia's Ministry of Defence saying Western Group UAV operators and Sobolyatnik radar crews identified Ukrainian positions on the Kupyansk axis and passed coordinates to artillery units.
Sources: RIA 2024 West Group Sobolyatnik Kupyansk, Army Recognition 2024 Ukraine Sobolyatnik
Armeyskiy Standart described Sobolyatnik use in Russia's war in Ukraine for front-line detection, counter-battery work, and relaying coordinates against UAV operators and other targets.
Sources: Armeyskiy Standart 2024 Sobolyatnik
