Content

1. Introduction

2. The Controlling Subsystem of the NSNF

3. Automated Control Systems

4. Combat Information and Control Systems (CICS)

5. Automated Communication Systems (ACS)

6. Radio Communication Equipment

1. Introduction

This description is based on public information from Eugene Miasnikow (NTI.org), Pavel Podvig (several sources), Wikipedia, Russian Newspapers, Jane's Defence Equipment Library „Military Communications„ and Vol. XIII „Control, Communication and Radio Electronic Warfare„ (The XXI Century Encyclopedia: Russia's Arms and Technologies).
So far the CIS Navy HQ do not offer guided tours nor do they operate a helpline...... It therefore goes without saying, that I was not able to verify any of the presented informations. Nevertheless I'm trying to insert a missing part into the puzzle whenever I find informations somewhere.

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2. The Controlling Subsystem of the NSNF

Control of submarines on duty is conducted by the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces through the Navy's Main Staff with the help of all continously working communication centers. The controlling subsystem of the Naval Strategic Nuclear Forces (NSNF) unites all the different communication channels. As a rule, all elements of the system are interconnected by cables as well.

The purpose of this system is the transmission of control - and command signals to the Strategic Missile Submarines (SMS) and exchange information with the staffs, command posts and supporting forces. The subsystem includes tactical control bodies, command posts, forces and means of communication (communication centers, spacecraft, relay aircraft and others). VHF, HF, MW, VLF and satellite radio channels are used and allow communication even with deeply submerged SMS.

Many efforts to provide communication with submarine were embarked and became reality in several projects:

1948
Pobeda system, VLW transmitter of 1000 kW, VLF and HF range 6000 km
1956
Superfast HF channel to SMS, protection against detection and RDF.
1969
Adoption of HF/VLW automated communication lines, MW communication center, upgraded VLF transmitters for reception to a depth of 30 m and sessionless communication.
1985
Glubina program with MW transmitter at Zeus facility (Northern Fleet), 5000 kW VLF station at the DM-8 facility and a 1000 kW VLF transmitter at the 1500 DM facility.
1995
Glubina-1 program with 2 MW VLF transmitter at the DM-10 facility (Pacific Fleet), 500 kW VLF transmitter at Zeus facility, 5MW MW station in the Far East, experimental seismic transmission center for the Northern Fleet, trailing floating emergency information device for submarines submerged to 400 m and others.
1993
Experiments with Extra Large Frequencies (ELF) at Zeus facility with signals recorded in a distance of up to 1500 km and down to 300 m in the sea.
2000
Most of the Glubina-2 program was approved and funded, the nearest to completion are channels of laser, seismic and ELF.

Look here for a detailed description of the actual VLF/HF C3 network for SMS: C2 Systems in the NSNF

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3. Automated Control Systems

According to the functionality, three types of ACS are known: ACS of the Forces, ACS of combat facilities and ACS of special purposes.

There are five levels of ACS of the Forces: strategic, strategic and operational, operational, operational and tactical, tactical.
At strategic level a well protected, stationary ACS is on duty at the base of Navy's Main Staff.
At strategic and operational level ACS is deployed, that represents the common naval control body at specific Marine Theater of Military Operations (MTMO).
At operational level stationary ACS are deployed at the command stations of the Navy's Air Force, Naval Rear Services, some Flotillas and Operational Ship Organization (OSO). These ACS are stationary apart from OSO ACS which is located at the flagship.
At operational and tactical level in some fleets OSO ACS are created. Examples can be the Group of Miscellaneous Forces (GMF) or Operative Squadrons (OPS). ACS of this level are based at a special control ship or on the flagship. ACS of Naval Bases (NBACS) are related to the same level.
At tactical level ACS are created for divisions, Tactical Ship Organizations (TSOACS), Tactical Groups (TGACS), Surface Ships (SSACS) and Submarines (SMACS). All other ACS are mobile and are deployed at the ships.

ACS of combat facilitiesare assumed to be classified as per six types of weaponry that is controlled by them: Attack Missile Weapon (AMWACS) aboard SMS, missile cruisers, divisions with cruise missiles, Torpedo Weapon (TWACS) installed in submarines, surface ships and torpedo boats, Artillery Weapon (AWACS) aboard surface ships, artillery boats, anti-aircraft defense and artillery units.

ACS of special purposeshave been develloped for Radio Electronic Warfare (REWACS), for Anti-Submarine Controlled Missile Weapon (ASCMWACS), for Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems (AMSACS).

ACS of special assignmentare divided into eight types, namely for: communication subsystems, Shore Surveillance Systems (SSSACS), Radar Information Process Automated System (RIPAS), Sonar Information Process (SIPAS), Radio Technical Information (RTIAS), Underwater Situation Lightning (USLAS), Navigation, Hydrographical and Hydrometeorological Information (NHGGMPAS) and Ship Technical Facilities (TFACS).

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4. Combat Information and Control Systems (CICS)

These systems are intended for automation of control procedures of ship weaponry and technical facilities for the purpose of complete use of combat capabilities of the ship.
Around 1980 surface ships of the Russian Navy were equipped with several tens of of CICS of 1st and 2nd generation. State trials of 3rd generation CICS Lesorub, made by RPA Mars, started. Although it significantly improved the tactical and technical characteristics as well as the degree of automation, it could not reach full complexity in automation of combat operations. In further attempts towards a uniform system combat contours of anti-aircraft -, anti-submarine - and attack weapon control first were realized on the aircraft carrier HACC Admiral Kuznetsov and the guided missiles cruiser HMC Pyotr Veliky.

First ACS of the 4th generation and with it CICS Tron appeared. The first CICS for submarines was Tucha, which now was a centralized structure for Situation Lightning Contours, ballistic missiles and torpedos control as well as for C2. CICS structure now generally became centralized with independent subsystems, e.g. Alleya-2 for surface ships. The example of Alleya-2 indicates, that for ACS of tactical level own subsystems for information exchange can be made. The structure of such subsystems, as a rule, repeated the accepted control organization. In Alleya-2 the information exchange subsystem consisted of three subsystems: Morye, Aist-K and Lasur-MK.

Some systems, of which information was available, are briefly presented following. Technical specifications are not available, apart from some ridiculous statements like the total power consumption, the weight or the resolution of the displays.

Morye/Morye-U
Is a CICS for tactical group ships with narrow aperture coded radio communication between up to 10 group members. Developed 1962 ... 1965 by „Morinformasistema-Agat„, OJSC concern (Moscow). It might well be, that upgraded versions of Morye still are in use today (2008).

MVU-211
CICS, solving the following tasks:
- acquisition, processing and storage of data about air -, surface - and subsurface situation
- display of conditions and operation of the ships weapon systems
- presentation of recommended procedures for combat use of weaponry, tactical ship operations, direct control in combat
- documentation of the situation

Omnibus
Highly integrated CICS for a wide range of tasks of submarines. Due to the different tasks of submarines their CICS have corresponding layouts.
The group of informational tasks receives information from all ship sources: sonar, non-acoustic facilities, navigation, radiolocation and radio reconnaissance, IPM and signal intelligence.
The group of tactical maneuvering tasks include the latent forced crossing of anti-submarine forces effective area, the breaking of anti-submarine defense, the submarine avoidance and disengagement and the withdrawal from the survey band of surface ships. Omnibus at the same time will recommend parameters of maneuvering and combat and allows the commander various methods of torpedo firing, mine standing or communication with other ships of the group.
The group of training tasks allows to perform the training of the crew that operate Omnibus.

MVU-133
This is another CICS for submarines. Seems to be more recent than Omnibus.

Trebovanye-M
Trebovanye-M is a recent generation CICS for combat actions of surface ships of light and medium displacement. It automates all possible functions of combat control including ship's helicopter, safe pass with surface targets and joint navigation within the group of ships. The whole system has been developed on the basis of LAN Ethernet with 100 Mbs. Interconnection of the various software complexes within the ship's armament is via RS-232/RS-422 or special interfaces. The system provides the display of unprocessed or processed radar information and cartographical information in the C-57 intl. standard in any combination. Trebovanye-M is protected against any unauthorized use and incorrect actions.
The software is written in C++ language and the operational environment is a real time application QNX. Even the type of printer they use in this system is given away: it's a HP Laser Jet 2100.....
Manufacturer is RPF „Meridian„ (St. Petersburg).

You may want to compare this information with the information of the US Navy from 1995 given in this link: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/scmp/part06.htm

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5. Automated Communication Systems (ACS)

Modern ACS are designed to provide the following:
- communication channels via satellite and radio from ELF up to UHF
- sounding
- monitoring electromagnetic surroundings onboard
- automatic connection of any workstation to the communication channels
- processing and delivery of messages and signals to the addressees
- interface with the communication subcomplex that provides airborne vehicle control
- etc

Again it is not clear, which of the systems presented here still are in use today (2008). We may assume however, that many still are, but have been, at least partly, upgraded whenever possible. Information about new systems, e.g. for the last generation submarines, is not available.

R-780
Designed to establish communication between submarines, surface ships, aircrafts and coastal command posts of the Navy in telegraphy, telephony and facsimile on HF and VHF. 7 to 15 channels can operate simultaneously. The power consumption is impressive: 65 kW.

R-782-5KE
The successor system provides communication channels between 100 kHz up to 400 kHz for open traffic in the modes telegraphy, telephony and facsimile between surface ships and command posts as well as for homing ship- and ground based aircraft (Mayak-SV mode on MW). FSK with 125 or 200 Hz shift up to 100 Bd is possible as well. The statements regarding ELF reception with this system are inconsistent.
Manufacturer of R-780/R-782-5KE is FSUE „Neptun„.



BURAN-6E
Provides open duplex communications with coastal stations, coordinating ships and aviation in voice and telegraphy as well as Mayak-SV mode on MW and automatic data link with computer aided action information organization. The frequency range is 100 kHz to 400 Mhz.
BURAN-6E may contain up to 5 transmitters Fakel P-3, 8 receivers Skalyar-K1 and up to 6 VHF/UHF radio stations R-625 Pikhta, R-669, etc.

RUBEROID
RUBEROID(RUBIN in export version) seems to be the most modern ACS which I found described. It provides reliable communications to surface ships, submarines, aircraft, spacecraft and terrestrial stations.
Channel-forming commutation and distribution systems, radio equipment, remote operation, documentation -, information - and control systems can be configured to suit all requirements. An independent GMDSS is part of RUBEROID as well.
Up to 10 communication channels for receive and transmit can be operated. Interestingly enough the number of operators is given as one. The time to set-up a communication channel is between 10 and 80 s, the time to change mode within a channel is "not more than 5 s".
Some of the units used for RUBEROID are
- workstation (no typenumber)
- communication terminal P-492
- control unit of channelizing equipment
- multifunctional digital switchboard
- switching equipment for radio comms with surface ships P-450
- UPS unit
It is worthwile to note the description of P-492:
„Operating principle is based on specially developed software that enables to automate the process of preparation, storage, processing, recording and registration of messages during radio traffic in discrete data link channels, to act as a telegraph key and to act as a Morse Code transmitter."
Manufacturer is RIO CJSC (St. Petersburg).

R-785
Not much information is available about R-785, which seems to provide all possibilities for communication with all sort of addressees. Reference is made to „cryptographic security„ of the equipment.
Up to 60 communication channels can be operated simultaneously.

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6. Radio Communication Equipment

Monitoring CIS Navy radio network might bring up the question of how the equipment at "the other end" looks like or what type of transmitter could have been used on the frequency we're listening right now. In most cases an identification of ships will not be possible, but at least some short descriptions of Navy radio equipment have been released. I've tried to give the most important specifications and some pictures of what is available today (2008). The description is the one given by the publishers, date of production is nowhere mentioned. Quite often equipment is known with different type numbers, with only minor changes.

R-638-2 Transmitter Automated solid state transmitter, may be used independently or as part of ACS. Frequency range 1.5 to 60 MHz, output 4 kW in cont. mode. Modes: AM/FM/PM, telephony, wideband pulse. Antenna switch for 3 antennas (whips 6m and 8m). Tuning time 0.3 s, with transmatch unit max. 55 s. Local or remote operation via RS-232/RS-485 interface. Manufacturer: FSUE "Neptun", RIACSC.
R-638-3 Transmitter Automated solid state transmitter, may be used independently or as part of ACS. Frequency range 1.5 to 30 MHz, output 1 kW in cont. mode. Modes: AM/FM/PM, telephony, wideband pulse. Tuning time 0.3 s. Local or remote operation via RS-232/RS-485 interface. Manufacturer: FSUE "Neptun", RIACSC.
R-638-3-4 Transmitter Automated solid state transmitter, may be used independently or as part of ACS. Frequency range 1.5 to 30 MHz, output 250 W in cont. mode. Modes: A1A, F1B, G1B, F3E, R3E, H3E, J3E. Tuning time 0.03 s. Local or remote operation via RS-232/RS-485 interface. Manufacturer: FSUE „Neptun„, RIACSC.
Kompas Transmitter Automated solid state onboard transmitter for ACS. Frequency range 1.5 to 30 MHz, output 1000 W in cont. mode. Modes: A1A, F1B, G1B, F3E, R3E, H3E, J3E, M1B, 5F1B, 15G1B. FSK shifts 100, 125, 170, 200, 400, 500, 1000 Hz Programmable channels 100 Time to change channels 50 ms J3E audio bandwidth 300 ... 3400 Hz Local or remote operation.
R-631 Transmitter Shortwave Transmitter for surface ships, includes Mayek-1 exciter and wide-band matching unit. Frequency range 1.5 to 30 MHz, output 5.5 kW in cont. mode Modes CW telegraphy, SSB/DSB AM telephony, 2FSK with shifts of 125, 200, 500 and 1000 Hz 2FSK with 15-fold frequency diversity in 2 kHz steps, PSK with 180° shift, PSK with 15-fold frequency diversity in 2 kHz steps, FM telephony. Ext.forced air cooling. Manufacturer Russian Inst. for High Power Radio Engineering OJSC (St.Petersburg)
R-635 Transmitter Shortwave Transmitter for submarines, includes Mayek-1 exciter and automatic wide-band matching unit. Frequency range 1.5 to 30 MHz, output 250 W in cont. mode, up to 17 kW short-time mode with 2 PA Modes CW telegraphy, SSB/DSB AM telephony, 2FSK with shifts of 125, 200, 500 and 1000 Hz 2FSK with 15-fold frequency diversity in 2 kHz steps, PSK with 180° shift, PSK with 15-fold frequency diversity in 2 kHz steps, FM telephony. Manufacturer Russian Inst. for High Power Radio Engineering OJSC (St.Petersburg)
Serdolik PRD-20 Transmitter Shortwave transmitter 3 to 30 MHz with an output power of 20 kW for stationary use for long-haul communications. Modes are SSB with independent sidebands R3E and J3E between 0.3 to 3.4 kHz, FSK 50 or 100 Hz shift, and telegraphy A1A.. Tuning time is less than 5 s. The unit may be controlled remotely or locally.
R-774 DSK Skalyar receiver rack 19 inch width, for stationary radio centers, the receivers being produced in several versions. Frequency range 0.1 to 2, 1.5 to 60 or 0.1 to 60 MHz in steps of 10 Hz Modes A1A, J3E, F3E, F1B, G1B 100 memory channels
Skalyar-S Receiver Replacement for R-753K sets, for automatic reception, processing and registration of up to 24 communication channels in 8 non-overlapping ranges. Suitable for continous monitoring of codes of the „Splav„ and „Integral„ radio lines. One antenna is connected via a group matching unit to all receivers. FSK with a shift of 200 Hz at 50 or 100 Baud is received. Messages may be automatically decoded and forwarded to the workstation. Manufacturer is FSUE Omsk Research Inst. of Instrument Building.
R-170P Receiver For mobile or stationary use in the frequency range from LW to VHF. Local or remote control, optimized for high power interference of up to 100 V at the antenna input. Manufacturer is Radio Equipment Plant (Ekaterinburg).
R-680 / R-682 Receiver For mobile or stationary use in the frequency range 1.5 to 60 MHz. Power supply is attached to the top of the unit, a rack version with 2 or 3 receivers is available. Modes A1A. A3, A3A, A3H, F3, FSK with 125, 200, 500, 1000 Hz shift and diff. phase-shift telephony. Manufacturer is Russian Inst. for High Power Radio Engineering OJSC (St.Petersburg).
R-682
R-683 Receiver For mobile or stationary use in the frequency range 3 to 100 kHz, might be used for VLF broadcasts in T-600 mode onboard submarines. The attached units on top of receiver possibly are the decoders. Modes are CW telegraphy, automatic telegraphy and FSK. Manufacturer is Russian Inst. for High Power Radio Engineering OJSC (St.Petersburg)
Sapfir (Serdolik PRM-B) Receiver Designed for use in adaptive radio lines for frequencies of 1.5 to 30 MHz in steps of 10 Hz, DSP, parametric adaption to actual interference conditions, tunable preselectors. Two versions for remote control or for integrated systems. Sapfir-04 version covers a range of 0.1 to 30 MHz.
PT-100, PV-100 Radio Set Designed for simplex and semiduplex shortwave communications between 1.5 and 30 MHz in the modes J3E, J7B, A1A. G1B and F1B with frequency adaption in the telephony band with 10 subchannels spaced at 300 Hz. Output power is 100 W. Digital Signal Processing, tunable preselector, remote control of antenna matching unit, tuning time less than 60 ms.
R-625 Radio Set LW/MW transmitter/receiver set for stationary or portable use in the frequency range of 100 to 150 kHz and 200 to 400 kHz in steps of 25 kHz. Output power 20 to 50 W dep. on mode. Modes A2, A3, A9,F1, F3 Manufactured since 1974 until today by Russian Inst. for High Power Radio Engineering OJSC (St.Petersburg)
R-608N / R-608P Emergency Radio Set HF transmitter/receiver for use onboard surface ships and submarine on the emergency frequncies of the Navy. Frequency range 3.6 ... 3.8, 4.5 ... 4.7, 6.1 ... 6.3, 8.2 ... 8.4, 10 ... 10.3, 12.4 ... 12.7, 16.5 ... 16.8, 20.0 ... 22.4 MHz with 10 fixed frequencies. Output power 20 W (70 W short time) Modes A1A, R3E, H3E, F1B. Manufacturer is Russian Inst. for High Power Radio Engineering OJSC (St.Petersburg).
R-023 Voice Scrambler The device can be used for mobile or stationary use for simplex voice channels with the radio stations: R-163, R-173, R-134 and R-171. Open or camouflaged transmission within audio bandwitdth of 0.3 to 3.4 kHz.
R-168MVE Voice Scrambler/Encryption The device can be used for mobile or stationary use for simplex voice channels with the radio stations: R-163, R-171, R-173 in several subtypes. Analogue camouflage is between 0.3 and 3.4 kHz, digital encryption with 2/128 key settings at a speed of 16 kbit/s. Featuring automated key input, urgent key erasing, non-volatile key memory.
MODEM AT-3004D Designed for transmission/reception in the audio band 300 to 3400 Hz with speeds of 1200, 2400 or 2 x 1200 bps in QPSK mode. Synchronization time is less than 2 s. Keeps synchronized for at least one hour in the absence of channel. Modem can be combined with converters AT-3125 or 3132. This unit is used for MS-5 (12 tones, spaced 200 Hz, at 75 Bd speed and a pilot tone at 3300 Hz), for CROWD-36 MFSK modes and, under the name "Bulava", as well for the AM modulation of "The Buzzer"; more here: Mistery Networks Manufacturer is JSC Almaz.
MODEM AT-3104 This is the successor of AT-3004D, it is delivered in 7 variants for different tasks. The manufacturer says, AT-3104 "has considerable advantages in comparison with (....) AT-3004D, owing to the leading of 20-channel regime, the use of high speed microprocessors ....". The unit is used for MS-5 and CROWD-36 traffic.