Soviet Radar Duga: Answering The Challenges Of Times

Huge steel construction lies in the forests of Chernobyl exclusion zone. Hidden from people`s eyes, once it could be heard all over the world. Aimed to spot intercontinental ballistic missiles, it was never adopted by the USSR Ministry of Defense. Top-secret system caused as many issues to Soviet authorities as rumors among the people. Speculations on its purpose went from unfinished hotel to controlling people`s minds system; metaphorical nicknames – from Russian Woodpecker to Moscow Hidden Eye. After 1986, the gossip went as far as to claim that Duga caused Chernobyl accident. However, the thing that stunning structure has a striking story behind can`t be questioned.

As soon as the Iron Curtain divided postwar world, Soviets started developing systems able to detect intercontinental ballistic missile shortly after it was launched. According to Soviet militaries` calculations, American missile would reach USSR in less than one hour. The need of having early-warning system was essential. In 70ties, three early-warning radar systems were built in the USSR. First experimental antenna was called Duga-N (Duga – curve or arc in Russian) and located close to Ukrainian city Mykolayiv (Nikolaev in Russian). Two more were built soon after. Duga-2 radar was built on the very East of Russia in Komsomolsk-na-Amure. Duga-1 was built in the Northern Ukraine, which is sometimes mistakenly called Duga-3.

Construction of Duga-1 began in early 70ties and was finished by 1979. Operation of the early-warning radar system was based on the idea that short-wave radio bands can be reflected from the ionosphere. Thus, reflected signal could be used for over-the-horizon detection.

The method allowed identifying objects 4,500 km away from the radar.

Transmitted at an angle, the signal would reach the ionosphere, be reflected and come back to the ground. Ground as reflecting surface would send it to the sky again. Theoretically, plumes left by flying ballistic missile would bounce the signal off and return it to the receiving antenna.

Duga – Radar To Work Out The Conspiracy

Duga-1 operated two antennas, receiver and transmitter, 60 km apart from each other. Transmitter was located in military town Liubech-1, Northern Ukraine. The other part of this Duga, antenna which had to receive the signal, was built 10 km away from Chernobyl town.

It consisted of two parts to cover wider range of frequencies. Height of Duga radar (its bigger part) is 150 m, length 500 m. “Small” part is just 100 m high and 250 m long.

Moscow Hidden Eye seemed to be difficult to hide. However, carefully chosen place made it impossible to spot the radar from any of the main roads in 30km radius. Apart from Pripyat, there were no cities with multi-storey buildings. As a part of conspiracy plan, small town for the militaries and their families was named Chernobyl-2. Dense forests helped to conceal the construction. Soviets marked the site as an abandoned summer camp on all their maps. Icing on the cake – bus stop decorated with Misha the Bear, symbol of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Built right in the beginning of the 8km road that leads to the military site and the town, it was never in use.

Failure Of Duga System

Despite all the effort put into Duga-1, it brought more issues rather than efficiency. Firstly, Duga-1 “looked” in northern direction. When passing the North Pole, signal had to encounter with unstable conditions of wave propagation and chaotic perturbation of the ionosphere. Practically, the radar was able to detect only massive start of ballistic missiles, but would be blind when it was coming to just one. Secondly, using frequency range from 7 to 19 MHz, system interfered with commercial aviation communications and radio bands. Repetitive knocking sound burst into broadcasts. Being heard, radar unveiled itself to the world and was nicknamed as Russian Woodpecker. Radio amateurs wrecked secret location of Duga: Woodpecker was in Ukraine, they were guessing. All these shortcomings prompted the Soviet military leadership to reconsider the project and modernize it. Starting from 1983, the Woodpecker “calmed down” and such a disruption into shortwave radio space was recorded no more. Final test was scheduled for 1986. However, explosion at Chernobyl power plant ruined these plans.

Coming from the destroyed reactor, radiation contaminated Duga, so that Woodpecker was put out of service and Chernobyl-2 was evacuated. It was thought that after decontaminating the construction and the town, people would be able to come back and continue working. However, some of the electronic computing machines were affected by radiation and “burnt” inside. The higher military command decided to evacuate the rest of the equipment to Duga, radar which was located near Komsomolsk-na-Amure. Conspiracy theories connected the explosion to the Duga. They claimed, Chernobyl accident had to distract the attention from the Woodpecker, although radar suffered from the radiation.

Woodpecker In Chernobyl Zone Nowadays

After the Iron Curtain fell, Soviets stopped developing the system. As USSR collapsed, the radars were disassembled and sold for scrap metal. Only one survived. It is located 10 km away from Chernobyl; Duga-1 is preserved by contamination which makes it impossible to take it out of the zone. In the beginning of 90ties, the most valuable parts were looted; luckily, geometrically perfect steel construction stays even today on the Northern part of Ukraine. In April, 2020 forest fires threatened the area. Greenery around the antenna and the town burnt to ashes, however, the radar, command centre, driving school and facilities in Chernobyl-2 were not damaged.

Nowadays, apart from Russian Woodpecker, antenna is known as Monument to the Cold War. Since 2013, Duga-1 is included to the official touristic route. You can visit the radar by choosing one of our tours.

You can see Chernobyl Duga with your own eyes with our exclusive Chernobyl tours.

FAQ about Chernobyl Radar Duga

What is the Chernobyl Radar Duga?
The Chernobyl Radar Duga, also known as the Russian Woodpecker, is a massive Soviet over-the-horizon (OTH) radar system built during the Cold War. It is located near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine and was part of the Soviet missile defense early-warning radar network.

When was the Chernobyl Radar Duga constructed?
Construction of the Chernobyl Radar Duga began in 1970 and was completed in 1976.

What was the purpose of the Chernobyl Radar Duga?
The primary purpose of the radar system was to detect and track incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) launched from the United States, giving the Soviet Union an early warning in the event of a nuclear attack.

Why was it called the “Russian Woodpecker”?
The radar emitted a repetitive tapping sound, resembling that of a woodpecker, which could be heard on shortwave radio bands worldwide. This interference led to its nickname, the “Russian Woodpecker.”

Was the Chernobyl Radar Duga affected by the Chernobyl disaster?
Yes, the radar was affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The high levels of radiation in the area forced the immediate evacuation of the radar station personnel. The facility was subsequently abandoned and has been left to decay since then.

Can I visit the Chernobyl Radar Duga today?
Yes, it is possible to visit the radar as part of guided tours to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Keep in mind that the area is still contaminated with radiation, so it is essential to follow safety guidelines and the instructions of your tour guide.

Is it safe to visit the Chernobyl Radar Duga?
Although the radiation levels have decreased significantly since the Chernobyl disaster, there is still a risk associated with visiting the site. It is essential to take safety precautions, such as wearing appropriate clothing and following the instructions of your tour guide. It is generally considered safe for short visits as part of an organized tour.

How tall is the Chernobyl Radar Duga?
The Chernobyl Radar Duga is an impressive structure, standing approximately 150 meters (492 feet) tall and spanning around 700 meters (2,297 feet) in length.

Has the Chernobyl Radar Duga been featured in any films or documentaries?
Yes, the radar has been featured in various documentaries and films, such as the documentary “The Russian Woodpecker” (2015), which explores the history and conspiracy theories surrounding the radar system.

Sources:
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/system-duga/
https://valuh.livejournal.com/64067.html
https://www.litmir.me/bd/?b=110246
http://arta46.narod.ru/libr/wotin/wotin_4.htm