OSINT Analyst: Russia Attempts to Reactivate Old S-300 Systems

New satellite images from the Khabarovsk Radio Engineering Plant indicate a large-scale movement of military equipment.

OSINT analyst Athene Noctua notes that this primarily concerns the S-300PS systems, which have long been discontinued.

The photos, taken two years apart, show that a significant number of air defense system components have been removed from the plant’s territory.

Specifically, the movement of six 40V6MD universal mobile masts, three 30N6 radars and two 5N66 radars, 13 5P85 launchers, four mobile repair workshops, and 14 generators was recorded.

Meanwhile, a more detailed analysis showed that the 30N6 radar stations were not completely removed but only relocated within the plant.

The total number of such radars on the territory of the enterprise remains at 13 units.

Since 30N6 radars have not been produced for a long time, Moscow is forced to use its accumulated reserves.

According to Athene Noctua’s assessment, these batteries are essentially spare parts reserves, not fully operational combat units.

Some of the radar equipment is likely undergoing testing before being returned to service. Satellite photos show signs of activity, indicating testing.

According to available information, the Russian military is attempting to restore only two of the eight S-300 batteries currently in storage.

On the night of August 16-17, as a result of a Ukrainian attack on the Russian Baltimore air base, Russian forces disabled an S-300 anti-aircraft division and likely struck two Su-24 bombers.

Researchers also found a 2019 report from a Russian TV channel about the modernization of the same anti-aircraft system to the S-300PM2 version, which matched the guard positions with footage from the video.