Special Operations Forces destroyed Russian Zoopark-1M radar

Operators of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) destroyed the Zoopark-1М counter-battery radar of the Russian army, according to SOF press-service.

During aerial reconnaissance in the Donetsk direction, the SOF unit spotted the Russian reconnaissance and fire-control radar. It constantly changed position, so Ukrainian UAVs pursued enemy equipment for some time.

According to the authors of the video, the 1L220 Zoopark-2 counter-battery radar was recorded on the frames. However, such allegations are doubtful, since Zoopark-2 were manufactured in Ukraine, after the collapse of the USSR. They were also never exported to Russia. The most likely candidate is a visually similar Russian Zoopark-1M counter-battery radar developed at Strela Design Bureau that is based in the Russian city of Tula.

Aerial reconnaissance transmitted the coordinates of the location of the counter-battery radar to one of the units of the Defense Forces and its military successfully hit enemy equipment.

This is not the first case of the destruction of the Russian Zoopark-1M radar. In January this year, Ukrainian gunners using the HIMARS multiple rocket launcher destroyed the Russian 1L261 radar.

On February 19, 2023, one more destroyed Russian Zoopark-1M radar was discovered in the Kherson region.

1L260 Zoopark-1M

Zoopark-1M is the Russian reconnaissance and fire control radar developed by Tula Strela enterprise. First made public in 2013. The system is equipped with a passive electronically scanned array radar.

It is designed to effectively counteract artillery and missile systems by detecting their positions while firing. The radar can also be used to adjust the fire of friendly artillery.

According to the manufacturer, Zoopark-1M is able to detect the position of 152/155mm howitzer at a distance of up to 23 km with an accuracy of up to 40 meters, and multiple rocket launchers – at a distance of no more than 45 km with an accuracy of up to 50 meters.

The 1L261 radar is based on a GM-5955 universal tracked chassis, produced by the Mytishchinsky Machine-Building Plant.

The crew of the radar consists of three people: a driver, a radar operator and a commander.