Report (Permission Visit) Duga 3 radar ('Eye of Moscow'), Ukraine - Oct 2014

[Seffy]

Duga 3 radar system, nr Chernobyl, Ukraine

Otherwise known as the 'Eye of Moscow'...

So, what the hell is Duga 3?

Duga-3 Russian: Дуга-3 (NATO reporting name Steel Yard) was a Soviet over-the-horizon (OTH) radar system used as part of the Soviet ABM early-warning network. The system operated from July 1976 to December 1989. Two Duga-3 radars were deployed, one near Chernobyl and Chernihiv, the other in eastern Siberia.

The Duga-3 systems were extremely powerful, over 10 MW in some cases, and broadcast in the shortwave radio bands. They appeared without warning, sounding like a sharp, repetitive tapping noise at 10 Hz,[1] which led to it being nicknamed by shortwave listeners the Russian Woodpecker. The random frequency hops disrupted legitimate broadcast, amateur radio, commercial aviation communications, utility transmissions, and resulted in thousands of complaints by many countries worldwide. The signal became such a nuisance that some receivers such as amateur radios and televisions actually began including 'Woodpecker Blankers' in their design.

The unclaimed signal was a source for much speculation, giving rise to theories such as Soviet mind control and weather control experiments. However, many experts and amateur radio hobbyists quickly realized it to be an OTH system. NATO military intelligence had already photographed the system and given it the NATO reporting name Steel Yard. This theory was publicly confirmed after the fall of the Soviet Union.

This was quite a bus ride out from Chernobyl itself, but was totally worth it. Big heads up to our guides and their extensive knowledge of the place.

^ What the woodpecker array looks like from the top ^

No, before anyone asks, we didn't climb to the top. My good god we wanted to, but apparently it takes hours and we didn't have this much time. Maybe sometime in the future though... We spoke to a few people that have, and they said although tiring, it was such an experience.

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[Bigian88]

This photo literally made me say "wow" out loud!

 

[Fairdo's]

That's pretty awesome....

 

[Miss Drippy]

Great pictures, Seffy. :-)

I was so impressed by the size of the array, I wasn't sure what to expect but it was epic and so deathly silent. To give Duga a sense of scale:

 

[Dark Prince]

'Kin ell thats massive!. Them pesky Russians are still doing the same today with The Buzzer. Broadcasting on 4625usb, it goes Buzz...Buzz...Buzz then on the hour Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....Buzz...Buzz. Every now and again someone pops up and reads a random message.

 

[Post-apocalyptic Pete]

That's fucking huge! Amazing pictures...

 

[Gone]

me and Ruth started climbing it and got moaned at. weak.

 

[Humpa]

[video=youtube;CODnzRkvS44]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CODnzRkvS44[/video]

Give this a watch if you get chance
Nice snaps aswell man

 

[ZerO81]

Some nice shots here mate.

Sadly photos just never seem to show just how truly massive this thing really is!

 

[Baff]

Un-real !! And I thought the Pyramids looked huge from the foot ....!!
What's even more incredible is how something this massive was built in such secrecy.