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.

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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