Air Defense

48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1

Also known as
  • 48Ya6-K1
  • Podlet-K1
  • Podlet K1
  • Podlet-1K
  • Podlet-1K Radar
  • 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1
  • 48Я6-К1 Подлет-К1
  • Podlet-K1KE
  • 48Ya6-K1KE
  • Podlet-K1 command vehicle
  • Podlet-K1 operator control station
  • Podlet-K1 mobile command post

The 48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1 is a Russian mobile three-coordinate radar complex built to detect and track low-altitude air targets for air-defense units. Public reporting describes the system as a multi-vehicle package with a radar/antenna vehicle, command or operator-control vehicle, and power-support vehicle on KamAZ chassis, while Rosoboronexport markets the export Podlet-K1KE for automated detection, tracking, identification, and flight-information tasks in air-defense and air-force radio-engineering units. Ukraine-war reporting documents Russian Podlet-K1 losses and strikes tied to the S-300 and S-400 air-defense network.

48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1, Mobile three-coordinate low-altitude air-surveillance radar, Air Defense
Image source: File:48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Air DefenseReconnaissance & SurveillanceTargeting Support
Side
Russia

Ukrainian military-intelligence reporting and subsequent press coverage document Russian 48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar stations being struck, damaged, or destroyed during the war, including a November 2023 strike near Krasnaya Polyana in Belgorod region, an April 2024 strike on a Podlet-K1 antenna post and diesel generator, and February 2025 reporting on a drone strike that hit a mobile command post near Cape Tarkhankut and reportedly damaged a Podlet-K1 radar station. Ukrainian reporting described the system as feeding target coordinates to Russian S-300 and S-400 air-defense systems.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Built by
Almaz-Antey
Type
Mobile three-coordinate low-altitude air-surveillance radar
Service note
Russian service and export promotion from the mid-2010s onward
Designer
Almaz-Antey
Designed
State testing reported from 2010; service deliveries reported from 2015
Unit cost
Reported by Ukrainian sources at about $5 million per system
Produced
Reported Russian deliveries from 2015; Podlet-K1KE export promotion active by the 2020s

Specifications

Radar role
Mobile three-coordinate low-altitude air-target detection and tracking radar
Radar band
S-band / E-F band in specialist radar references
Coverage
360-degree azimuth coverage; elevation from -2 to 25 degrees in Rosoboronexport export data
Instrumented range modes
2-200 km, 2-300 km, or 2-80 km depending on operating mode
Radial target speed
50 to 4,400 km/h
Surveillance period
5 +/- 0.5 seconds or 10 +/- 0.5 seconds
System vehicles
Radar/antenna vehicle, command or operator-control vehicle, and mobile power generator on separate KamAZ wheeled chassis in public reporting
Mobility
Mobile multi-vehicle system; radar vehicle shown on KamAZ-6350 8x8 chassis in reporting
Known role with SAM systems
Target detection and coordinate support for S-300 and S-400 air-defense systems in Ukraine-war reporting
Radar Role And System Layout

Podlet-K1 is a low-altitude air-target detection radar for the sensor layer of an air-defense network, not a fire unit. Public export material describes automated or semi-automated detection, coordinate measurement, tracking, nationality determination, flight-information collection, and recognition of low-altitude air-attack weapons.

Operating envelope

Rosoboronexport lists range modes from 2-200 km, 2-300 km, or 2-80 km, with 360-degree azimuth coverage and elevation from -2 to 25 degrees, with additional support up to 45 degrees.

Target set

The export description emphasizes air objects and advanced low-altitude air-attack weapons in active, passive, and combined interference conditions.

Vehicle package

Public reporting describes the complete Podlet-K1 as a three-vehicle package on KamAZ chassis: the radar or antenna vehicle, a command or operator-control vehicle, and a mobile power-support vehicle.

Command vehicle function

The command/control vehicle is treated here as part of the Podlet-K1 radar complex because available sources identify it as the operator or command element of the radar package rather than a separately named weapon system.

Variants

Public sources use Podlet-K1, Podlet-1K, and 48Ya6-K1 for the Russian-service radar and Podlet-K1KE / 48Ya6-K1KE for the export-marketed configuration. The sources available here support treating them as a closely related designation family rather than separate catalog records.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
48Ya6-K1KE Podlet-K1KEExport-marketed configuration

Rosoboronexport lists the Podlet-K1KE as an automated transportable solid-state low-altitude radar for air-target detection in air-defense and air-force units.

Sources: Rosoboronexport Podlet-K1KE

Air-Defense Systems Cued

Podlet-K1 is a sensor rather than a missile launcher; its operational value comes from extending the low-altitude air picture and passing target data into larger Russian air-defense formations.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
S-300, Long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseS-300Long-range surface-to-air missile family

Ukrainian and defense reporting describe Podlet-K1 as providing target coordinates or support to Russian S-300-family air-defense systems.

Sources: Kyiv Independent Podlet Strike April 2024, TWZ Podlet Captured In Syria

S-400 Triumf, Long-range mobile surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseS-400 TriumfLong-range surface-to-air missile system

Reporting on the radar's Ukraine-war use and Syria capture describes Podlet-K1 as operating with or supporting S-400 air-defense systems.

Sources: Kyiv Independent Podlet Strike April 2024, TWZ Podlet Captured In Syria

Timeline

48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1 Key Events

  1. State testing reported

    Ukrainian defense reporting says state testing of the Podlet radar started in 2010 before later deliveries to Russian forces.

    Sources: Espreso Podlet Overview

  2. Russian deliveries reported

    Kyiv Independent reporting cited HUR saying the Podlet radar was a relatively new Russian development that began reaching Russia's army in 2015.

    Sources: Kyiv Independent Podlet Strike April 2024

  3. HUR reports Belgorod-region strike

    Ukraine's Defence Intelligence reported that Ukrainian intelligence, special-operations, and brigade elements discovered and destroyed a Russian 48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar near Krasnaya Polyana in Belgorod region.

    Sources: HUR Podlet Strike November 2023

  4. April 2024 strike reported

    The Kyiv Independent reported HUR's statement that Ukrainian units hit a Russian Podlet-K1 radar station, including its antenna post and diesel generator.

    Sources: Kyiv Independent Podlet Strike April 2024

  5. Captured vehicle reported in Syria

    TWZ reported that anti-Assad forces had captured at least the antenna vehicle of a Podlet-K1 radar during the Syrian rebel advance, while noting uncertainty over the exact location and ownership.

    Sources: TWZ Podlet Captured In Syria

  6. Crimea command-post strike reported

    United24 Media reported that a Ukrainian drone struck a mobile command post near Olenivka, close to Cape Tarkhankut, and that the attack reportedly damaged a mobile radar station identified in earlier reporting as a 48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1.

    Sources: United24 Podlet Command Post Strike

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Sources

Rosoboronexport Podlet-K1KEPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Supports Podlet-K1KE export designation, intended air-defense and air-force radar role, low-altitude target-detection mission, operating modes, coverage, target speed, and surveillance-period specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Radartutorial Podlet K1Publisher: Radartutorial | Note: Supports technical background for the 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1 as a mobile three-coordinate S-band / E-F-band low-altitude radar with phased-array and IFF antenna context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02HUR Podlet Strike November 2023Publisher: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use/loss context by reporting that Ukrainian intelligence and partner units discovered and destroyed a Russian 48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar near Krasnaya Polyana, Belgorod region; also supports the radar's low- and very-low-altitude air-target detection role. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Kyiv Independent Podlet Strike April 2024Publisher: The Kyiv Independent | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use/loss context by reporting HUR's April 2024 strike on a Russian Podlet-K1 radar station, including the antenna post and diesel generator, and by citing HUR's statement that the system transmitted coordinates to Russian S-300/S-400 air-defense systems. | Accessed: 2026-07-02United24 Podlet Crimea StrikePublisher: United24 Media | Note: Supports additional 2014 Russia-Ukraine War loss context by reporting HUR's November 2024 destruction claim for a Russian 48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar near Kotovske in occupied Crimea and the reported approximate system value. | Accessed: 2026-07-02United24 Podlet Command Post StrikePublisher: United24 Media | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use/loss context by reporting a February 2025 Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian mobile command post near Olenivka, Crimea, that reportedly damaged a mobile radar station identified in earlier reporting as Podlet-K1; also supports the three-vehicle system layout with antenna post, control console, and mobile power generator on separate KamAZ chassis. | Accessed: 2026-07-02TWZ Podlet Captured In SyriaPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War captured-equipment context by reporting that anti-Assad forces captured at least the antenna vehicle of a 48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1 radar during the December 2024 rebel advance; also supports background on designation, KamAZ-6350 antenna vehicle context, three-vehicle system layout, S-300/S-400 support role, Ukraine-war employment/loss context, and stated location and ownership caveats. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Espreso Podlet OverviewPublisher: Espreso | Note: Supports secondary overview context for reported state-testing start, first Russian deliveries, Almaz-Antey development, component vehicles, and declared characteristics used in the timeline and profile caveats. | Accessed: 2026-07-02File:48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and license page for a 48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar photograph sourced to the Russian Ministry of Defence and licensed CC BY 4.0 with Mil.ru attribution. | Accessed: 2026-07-02