331st Radio-Technical Regiment
Unit Identification and Mission
The 331st Radio-Technical Regiment (Russian: 331-й радиотехнический полк) is a unit of the Radio-Technical Troops (RTV) within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). Radio-Technical regiments conduct continuous radar surveillance, target detection and tracking, state identification (IFF), and reporting, generating the recognized air picture for regional air defense command posts. They provide radar support to fighter aviation and surface-to-air missile (SAM) units and contribute to state airspace control in restricted areas. These functions are core to Russia’s integrated air and missile defense architecture.
Designation and Numbering (v/ch 36138 and suffixes)
Open-source references attribute military unit number (v/ch) 36138 to the 331st Radio-Technical Regiment. In Russian practice, the base v/ch number without a suffix denotes the regimental headquarters/garrison, while suffix letters appended to the same number (e.g., 36138-Б, 36138-Г, etc.) denote separate subordinate elements such as remote radar posts, companies, or detachments. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation does not routinely publish detailed v/ch-to-unit mappings for Radio-Technical Troops; as a result, comprehensive official confirmation of each suffix-designated subunit is not publicly available.
Subordinate Elements Enumerated (as provided)
The following designations were provided for the 331st Radio-Technical Regiment and its elements: - Regimental headquarters: military unit 36138 - Subordinate elements using suffix letters to the same base number: 36138-B, 36138-G, 36138-I, 36138-V, 36138-D, 36138-L, 36138-M, 36138-N, 36138-P, 36138-R, 36138-Zh, 36138-K. The suffix letters correspond to Cyrillic identifiers (e.g., Б, В, Г, Д, Ж, З, И, К, Л, М, Н, П, Р) commonly used to designate discrete subordinate posts or companies. Specific locations and equipment for each suffix element are not disclosed in official public sources.
Command Relationships
Radio-Technical regiments are subordinate to air defense formations within the VKS. In the current force structure, RTV regiments typically report through an air defense division or corps to an Air and Air Defense Army. The five Air and Air Defense Armies are: 4th (Southern Military District), 6th (Western Military District), 11th (Eastern Military District), 14th (Central Military District), and the 45th Army of the Air and Air Defense Forces (Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command). The specific higher-echelon assignment of v/ch 36138 is not publicly disclosed in official documentation.
Operational Role in the Integrated Air and Missile Defense System
The regiment’s radar posts detect and track aerial objects (aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, and—depending on radar type—some ballistic targets), maintain the recognized air picture, and disseminate track data to regional air defense command posts. These feeds support engagement operations by SAM regiments (e.g., S-300P/S-300PM2/S-400) and fighter aviation. Data integration commonly occurs via automated command-and-control systems used by the VKS and Air Defense Forces; RTV picture data is fused at higher echelons and provided to air defense command posts and aviation control centers for battle management.
Representative Equipment of Radio-Technical Troops (not specific to v/ch 36138)
Exact inventories for the 331st Regiment are not published. The following radar and C2 systems are representative of RTV units in the 2010s–2020s, with performance figures based on publicly available manufacturer or official statements: - 55Zh6M Nebo-M: Multiband 3D radar system combining VHF, L-, and S-band components; detection ranges publicly reported up to approximately 600 km for aerodynamic targets at high altitude; improved capability against low-RCS and ballistic targets. - 59N6-TE Protivnik-GE: Mobile 3D L-band radar; stated detection range up to approximately 400 km for aerodynamic targets. - 96L6/96L6E: All-altitude 3D S-band radar (often paired with S-300/400 but usable standalone); ranges publicly reported up to ~300 km against aerodynamic targets. - 48Ya6-K1 Podlet-K1: Low-altitude 3D radar intended to close gaps in terrain-masked sectors; range publicly cited up to ~300 km versus aerodynamic targets depending on altitude. - 64L6 (Gamma-S1) and 35D6 (Tin Shield): 3D surveillance radars with ranges typically in the ~300–360 km class for conventional targets. - P-18-2 (modernized P-18 VHF) and 1L119 Nebo-SVU (VHF): Meter-band radars valued for performance against stealth-optimized shapes; typical ranges in the ~250–380 km class for aerodynamic targets. - Height-finding radars (e.g., PRV-13/PRV-16 series) may be present at older fixed posts where legacy systems remain in service. - Command and data-fusion assets (e.g., mobile command posts such as Fundament-M) are used within the broader air defense network to aggregate and distribute the air picture. These listings are representative of RTV capabilities and do not assert specific assignment to v/ch 36138.
Infrastructure Characteristics of Radar Posts
Subordinate radio-technical posts typically feature a combination of stationary and mobile infrastructure: elevated radar platforms or towers (often 30–60 m), radomes for weather protection of certain antennas, containerized equipment shelters, perimeter fencing and access control, on-site power generation (diesel gensets) with external grid connection, and line-of-sight communications facilities (microwave relay masts). Sites are commonly sited on elevated terrain or purpose-built mounds to maximize low-altitude coverage. Fixed posts may include hardened or semi-hardened facilities, while mobile radars deploy on wheeled heavy-duty chassis (e.g., BAZ or MZKT) with rapid emplacement capability.
Communications and Data Links
Radio-Technical posts exchange radar plots and tracks with regimental and higher-level command posts via a mix of fiber-optic lines (where available), microwave radio-relay links, and, in some regions, tropospheric scatter or satellite channels. Data is integrated into automated control systems used by the VKS air defense network. The regiment’s command post typically performs initial data fusion and quality control before forwarding the recognized air picture to divisional/army-level air defense command posts for engagement management.
Operational Employment and Readiness
Radio-Technical regiments maintain 24/7 operational watch with rotating crews. Fixed posts provide persistent coverage, while mobile detachments can reinforce threatened sectors, backfill during maintenance, or support exercises. Routine operations include calibration, periodic flight checks with cooperating aircraft for radar verification, equipment maintenance cycles, and electromagnetic compatibility checks. Redundancy across multiple posts allows continued coverage if one site is taken offline for maintenance or relocation.
Modernization Trends (2010s–2024)
Public reporting from the Russian MoD and industry indicates continuous re-equipment of RTV units over the past decade, including fielding of Nebo-M multiband systems, Podlet-K1 low-altitude radars, modernized VHF sets (e.g., P-18-2), and newer 59N6-TE Protivnik-GE series radars. Deliveries of these systems have been highlighted in annual announcements through the early 2020s. Command-and-control upgrades and improved digital processing have been emphasized to enhance track quality and resilience against electronic countermeasures. Specific delivery batches to individual regiments, including the 331st (v/ch 36138), are not detailed in official open publications.
Security, OPSEC, and Information Availability
Russian practice generally avoids publishing precise geospatial data, detailed manning, or equipment inventories for RTV regiments. Military unit numbers (v/ch) may appear in procurement documents, court filings, or regional contracting data, but official MoD communiqués seldom list subordinate post identifiers or locations. The suffix-letter convention (e.g., 36138-Б/В/Г/…) can denote distinct posts or companies under the same regiment without revealing their positions. Where exact locations and technical parameters are classified or otherwise withheld, they cannot be provided from public sources.
Analytic Considerations for Locating and Verifying Remote Posts
Analysts typically corroborate RTV post locations using multiple open-source indicators: recurring references to v/ch numbers in procurement records, regional press releases mentioning radar units, satellite imagery signatures (e.g., tall radar towers, distinctive radomes, containerized shelters, microwave relay masts, generator compounds), and proximity to air defense deployment areas or high ground with clear line-of-sight. Spacing patterns that provide overlapping coverage (often on the order of hundreds of kilometers between long-range sites) and presence of access-controlled perimeters with power infrastructure are consistent with radio-technical posts. Absent official disclosure, such methods provide indirect verification rather than definitive attribution.
Coverage and Performance Considerations (non-specific to v/ch 36138)
A distributed network of fixed and mobile radars allows layered coverage: low-altitude sets (e.g., Podlet-K1) mitigate terrain masking to approximately 150–300 km depending on target altitude and siting, while medium/long-range surveillance radars (e.g., 59N6-TE, 96L6, 35D6) extend detection against conventional aerodynamic targets to roughly 300–400 km. Multiband systems such as Nebo-M add long-range and counter-stealth capability (publicly cited up to ~600 km for high-altitude aerodynamic targets). Actual detection ranges depend on target radar cross-section, altitude, aspect, propagation conditions, and local siting; specific performance for the 331st Regiment is not publicly disclosed.
Legal and Regulatory Environment
Radar installations in the Russian Federation operate under national laws and standards governing state aviation control, use of radio-frequency spectrum, and protection zones for critical infrastructure. Sites typically have designated protective perimeters and zones with special conditions for land use, as well as sanitary norms governing exposure to electromagnetic emissions. Detailed parameters of protected zones and internal security measures for specific RTV posts are not publicly released.
Summary Assessment
The 331st Radio-Technical Regiment is identified in open sources with military unit number 36138, with multiple subordinate elements denoted by lettered suffixes to the same base number. This numbering pattern is consistent with Russian RTV practice for remote radar posts and companies. While precise locations, manning, and equipment for each suffix-designated element (36138-B/…/K) are not disclosed in official public sources, the regiment’s role is standard for VKS Radio-Technical Troops: maintaining continuous radar surveillance and feeding the integrated air picture to regional air defense command posts for fighter and SAM employment. Representative RTV equipment includes modern long-, medium-, and low-altitude radars and associated command-and-control systems fielded across the VKS in the 2010s–2024 modernization period; however, specific inventory and site data for v/ch 36138 are not publicly available.