Ruselectronics, a subsidiary of Russian firm Rostec, is set to present an export version of its new Penicillin acoustic-thermal reconnaissance system at the Army 2021 Forum.

The system is used to identify enemy artillery, mortars and multiple launch rocket systems positions.

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The technology can also be used to detect enemy launch sites of anti-aircraft and tactical missiles and for spotting friendly artillery.

Penicillin can detect targets up to 38km, depending on the version.

It is designed and manufactured by a Vega Group facility NII Vector.

Rostec industrial director Bekhan Ozdoev said: “Unlike most of similar systems, Penicillin detects the enemy artillery with a new combination of heat and sonic reconnaissance rather than with radars, and this makes its jamming impossible.

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“The system detects acoustic and thermal signals of shots and explosions, identifies the exact coordinates of guns, and lays them out on a digital map. Obtaining coordinates of a single target takes less than five seconds.”

Usually, the Penicillin system comprises two vehicles on the KAMAZ chassis, a sound-ranging reconnaissance vehicle and an acoustic-thermal reconnaissance vehicle. However, depending on the variant it can include up to six vehicles.

Vega Group general director Vyacheslav Mikheev said: “Penicillin has successfully passed the state inspection, and is now supplied to the Russian Army.

“Jointly with Rosoboronexport, we are currently negotiating with a few potential foreign customers, including the ones who operate Post-3M electronic reconnaissance stations. We plan to make a few presentations of the system and showcase its operation during the forum.”

In June, Rostec subsidiary Tekhnodinamika Holding developed a decoy cartridge to protect fighter jets from smart missile systems.

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