Russia installs massive over-the-horizon radar in Kaliningrad, extending reach into Europe
A large over-the-horizon radar has been erected in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, capable of spotting aircraft, missiles and ships up to 2,000 miles away.
High-resolution images from Iceye reveal a sprawling radar installation in the town of Gvardeysk, within the heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave. The array consists of three radiating arms, each about 500 metres long, forming an over-the-horizon (OTH) radar capable of detecting aircraft, missiles and naval vessels at distances from 550 to 2,000 miles. By bouncing low-frequency waves off the ionosphere, the system can surveil deep into northern and western Europe, reaching as far as the United Kingdom.
Kaliningrad has previously been used for GPS-jamming and spoofing, with Lithuania estimating at least 36 such antennas over four years. The radar joins other Russian military assets in the region, including air-defence units, missile sites and the Baltic Fleet. Russian officials warned that any NATO or British strike on the enclave would trigger a response using all means, including nuclear weapons.
Why it matters
The radar expands Russia's ability to monitor NATO forces across Europe, raising security concerns for the alliance.
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