EARLY WARNING RADAR STATIONS/SOVIET P-3, P-8 AND P-20 RADAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A000700680001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2008
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 1, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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USAF review completed.
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SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR SPECIAL CONTROLS, IF ANY
This material contains information affecting the
INFORMATION REPORT
National Defense of the United States within the
meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18. U.S.C.
PREPARED AND DISSEMINATED BY
Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation
of which in any manner to an unauthorized per-
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
son is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY
maux=
SUBJECT
DATE DISTRIBUTED
P-8
Early Warning Radar Stations/Soviet P=3, P-8
NO. OF PAGES
4
NO. OF C..CLS,
and P-20 Radar
-- -
SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT q
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
This report is the result of a joint collection effort of the Air Force, the
Amy a a < 3 . CIA, a Is dissenilWt d in accordance with the provisions of NSCID
#7nJ
25X1 25X1 25X1
1. The National Air Fares and Air Defense Command known as the "OLLRP" forszagos
Legiero es Legvede-lmi Parancsneksagj has two regiments. Regimental head-
quarters is located at Kec==e9> t and the other regiment is at Tszar. Both
are responsible for the surly warning and ground control intercept radar
activities in Hungary. Each regiment has 20 detachments (or units) of company
or platoon si.ze. The company size detachment, composed of 100-120 enlisted
men and officers, usually operaates two radar sets, whereas the platoon size de-
tachment, composed of 60 officex^n and enlisted men, operates only one radar
set.
2. The commanding officer of the regiment at Kecakemet is Major Aron Baez who was
sent to the USSR in 1954 to study Soviet techniques in early warning operations.
He was a member of the Communist Party. The cr nding officer of the "OLLTP"
is Major General FNU Madarsazr_who had his office at the Ministry of
Defense Building in Budapest
3. Twice a month, Soviet field grade officers, accompanied by Major Aron Rats,
would visit every early warning radar installation in the country to inspect
and make necessary recommendations. They were extremely thorough in their in-
spection and would sometimes stay a whole day if it were necessary.
4. The two regiments used mainly the Soviet P-3, P-8 and P-20 type radars. (Ana
and Drava were not used). The main early warning and ground control intercept
radar stations operated by these two regiment; until 1 Oct 56 were located
in the following places8
a. Papa - one P-20 radar
b. 7,laegerszeg - one P-8 radar
c. Veszprem - one P-20 and ''`-1G P-8 radar
d. Szekesfehervar - one P-20 and one P-8 radar
e. Kaposvar - one P-20 radar USAF review completed.
f. !Nazar -- one P-20 and ove P-8 radar
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g. Budapest - one P-20 radar
h. talocsa - one P-20 and one P-8 radar
i. Janoshalma - one P-20 and one P-8 radar
J. Kecskemet one P-20 and one P-8 radar
it. Hatvan - one P-8 and one P-3 radar
1. Miskolc - one P-20 and one P-8 radar
in. Mezocsat - one P-20 radar
A. Bekescsaba - one P-8 and one P-3 radar
o. Debrecen - one P-20 and one P-8 radar
In places where two radar were used, the equipment was usually placed at a
distance of approximately one to 1z kilometers apart.
5. During the November 1956 revolution, Soviet forces took over the radar installa-
tions and all of the personnel in these two regiments were dismissed and recalled
to be assigned to other units. For example, two of my friends who worked with me
were assigned to a border guard patrol unit.
6. The P-20 radar (Token) which is the early warning type, was first introduced in
Hungary in 1952. However, during the summer of 1956, the Hungarian Goveramsat
was anticipating the receipt of a new type of early yarning radar from the USSR
to replace the P-20es, whereupon the P-20's were to replace the P-3 types.
Some of the technical and operational characteristics of the P-3, P-8 and P-20
radar are as follows:
a. P-3 (Bhiferest) Radar
Purpose: Early warning and ground control intercept.
Source of frequency: Two magnetrons.
Source of electric power: The regular city power or two diesel motors --
one in operation and one on stand-by.
Rate of antenna rotation: Six r p in.
Scopess Two fluorescent scopes used one for height finding and one for
distance.
(Maximum effective range: 150 kilometers)
Personnel: Two operators.
Type aatsasa: T elsmeat horizontally polarised Y-24 antsnnas(On file
is an antenna sketch for P-3 (Kniferfet) Radar)
b. P-8 (T,u. B) Radar
Purpose: Early varning and ground control intercept.
Frequeney source: Three magnetrons.
Electric power source: Regular city electric power or two gasoline motor
driven generators furnishing 220 volts a c in three phases. When one is
in operation, the other .aerator is on standby.
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25X1 Tjpe antonna: Min zontally polarized in *lMWflWt.YAXd
(In file Se AntjenbrISketeh for T,-R Type Radar
Date of antenna rotation: Six r p in.
Maximm: effective range: 150-200 kilometers.
Accuracy in height finding: Above 600 meters. (This radar eaosot
detect aircraft flying below 600 meters.)
Personnel: Two radar operators.
Scopes: Two phosphorescent scopes 20cm in diameter each, used one
for height finding and one for distance.
c. P-20 (Token) Rdar?
Purpose: Early yarning and ground control intercept.
(_Frequacy source: Ton magaetross)
Maxim= effective raw: 600 kilometers.
Minimum effective range: 5-6 kilometers. (This radar is ineffective
for aircraft at a distance closer than 5km.) .
Eactric purer source: Regular city electric power or two diesel motor
driven generators producing 510 volts a c in three phases. When one is
in operation, the other generator is on stood by.
Type antenna: V been antenna system.
Rotation of unit: Six r p in.
scopes: Two phosphorescent scopes each 40ai in diameter, used for
height distance finding.
Personnel: Four operators.
8. The P-20 could not operate for more than six hours because of the great heat
generated by the various components in the not. Normally this set would operate
from four to five hours followed by a one hour break, which was just enough time
start to became overheated. During the fourth and fifth hours of opeis-
the readings obtained would be as high as 50 per cent inaccurate. The
seopss incorrectly because of the inaccuracy of the equipment. Radar operators
retard because of the heat hardship.
Equipment failure occurred once or twice a day with the result that daily mata-
tsasnce of equipment was necessary. Almost 75 per cost of the c rpansnts and
parts in this set were replaced during six months of operation. One of the
main problems was due to the motor rotating mechanism of the attire unit. This
was a synchronized motor built by the Soviets. In addition, the power genera-
tors would also cause us a lot of trouble. Far emsuple, when the regular city
electric power was used, the scope reading for the first two hours was accurate.
Eawever, when we switched to our own paver generator, operation appeared quite
different. The antennas, for instance, would rotate four to 44 r p a instead
of six r p m, thus making the scope reading inaccurate.
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10. Repair and. maintenaace as dome by specialised officers. Is rise of serious
trouble, Soviet advisors would help. The tracking of more than 30 planes with
the P-20 we almost impossible. The scope screens would light up and cause
much contusion. this equipment could. be completely dismiintlsd and ready to
move within six hours tine, whereas it would. only take two to three hours for
the P-3's and P-8's.
U.. the P-3 radar and the P-8 radar could only operate for two hours. The scope
reading of these two sets, like the P-20, would became inaccurate because of
the overheating of equipment.
12. The price paid by the Huaorin Goverment for a P-8 radar as estimated at
about two million foriats, and one to one and one-half million forlats for
a P-3. These prices included the radar set as well as the associated equip-
most. My knowledge of these prices is based on a talk gives to us by our
commanding officer who mentioned the moat of the egatpment and asked us to take
good care of it.
13. Ranh P-3, P-8.sad P-20 radar had an IF? antenna ailed the "LED" which was
usually located at about 50 or more meters from the radar *nst>atioa. This
ntsama would rotate like the radar atemaa and pick -p special type coded
sigeals transmitted by the Soviet or satellite aircraft for identification
purposes. This sods was changed every 2$ hours. Whim a foreign aircraft was
picked up by say radar, it would {++ +ately be reported to the Ministry of
Defense by telephone. The ministry would than contact the regiaeatal hand-
quarters and issue the necessary orders.
25X1 (oa file are the following,:
1. MWteh of a P-3 radar antemsia.
2. Sketch of a P-8 radar antsaaa.J
all classified CLs
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Ant=ma antra for P-3 (Lnifr.at) Radar
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