Sprut-Mussen (“Eye Bowl”) radar

(USSR)

Notes: This S-band system is used in conjunction with the SS-N-14 “Silex” ASW missile, on ships not equipped with the “Head Light“ radar. It does not “guide” the radio-controlled missile per se, rather, it simply tracks it inflight allowing the operator to send course instructions to the missile.

The “Eye Bowl” system appears to be simply a modification of the upper dishes of the “Head Light” radar. The “Eye Bowl” system always has two dishes, one tracks the SS-N-14’s altitude and the other it’s bearing; the operator‘s console correlates data from the two. This seemingly wasteful use of topside antenna space was chosen as it allowed the Soviets to quickly develop and field a cheap, reliable, simple system.

Range is about 35NM.

(below: The “Eye Bowl” antennas aboard a decommissioned Udaloy class destroyer.)