Fake or real? Russian weapons in RAF... with Quiz

[HalloweenJack]

RAF Spadeadam is the British military's testing range where air crew practice battle with simulated surface to air threats. Basically they have a load of Russian SAM systems and various radar decoys etc. Most of the kit was obtained from Eastern Europe(?) and includes SA-2, SA-8 and SA-6 missile systems.
I've been nosing around it on Google Earth and identifying the various kit - it can be challenging because a lot of them are decoys. You don't normally get to see some of these mobile systems on Google Earth in OPFOR countries but because we know they are here, we know where to look. Also, RAF have a photo gallery of the site so often you can cross-reference photos to Google Earth.
CLICK The images for full view

Here are some of the kit. Radar for S-300 SAM:

SA-2 SAM systems components


A fake Roland SAM system

ZSU-23 AAA system

A fake T-72 tank (Serbia scenario?)


Ok, so there's a bunch of real and fake systems, so how good a photo intelligence analyst would you be? Probably better than me, but here's some childish fun, can you spot what it is, and whether it's real or fake???







Answers:
A - http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5931/aaai8.jpg
B - http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9985/baiu4.jpg
C - http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/8306/cayi5.jpg
D - http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/2020/davr0.jpg
E - http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/912/eayl4.jpg

There's also a Sukhoi, numerous other weapon systems and decoys and a mock airfield if anyone wants to go look in Google Earth.


BIG credit to

Planeman from the ATS forum for all of the above (shamelessly nikced as its darn good)

[NutLoose]

Being totally Honest here

I was on Jaguars in RAFG and went on leave to a quiet little Village just to the West of Carlisle to visit my Mum, 54 Sqn at the time were playing silly buggers over Spadeadam and flying low over the Village, I thought Sh*t even on leave I can't get away from the damn things........

So I phoned up and complained Lol.. I even gave the person on the other end of the phone the Squadron whom the aircraft belonged to, much to their suprise........ didn't see much of them after that.

[cornish-stormrider]

That there blow up roland.......It's part of the army of Blobby Armed with custard pie and funny foam warheads

[barotraumatized]

Thank gawdd today's Spade trip was canx. I Should have just come on here before having to go in for 0600z met.

Why is this on here?.................

[johnny99]

Ok, so there's a bunch of real and fake systems, so how good a photo intelligence analyst would you be? Probably better than me, but here's some childish fun, can you spot what it is, and whether it's real or fake???


This has got to be a joke ,,,,

Look whatever you thing you are doing its not fun,,, stop your hurting yourself.

[glad rag]

You can call me a cabbage...

.........but that was bloody interesting.

cheers

glad rag

[Squirrel 41]

Halloween Jack -

So if you're this interested in photo interpretation, why not volunteer and do it with the regulars - http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/jobs/i...m?tab=thefacts - or the reserves - http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/sq...ationsquad.cfm

And if you're just spotting... well.... doubtless others on here will give you the standard line.

S41

[HalloweenJack]

As i said at the end of the original post - it was something i found that i thought was both relevant and interesting , with credit to the original author - but apparantly given the replies here i was sadly mistaken.

[MAINJAFAD]

Join up as a TG4 ICT Techie, and you can operate and fix them as well (The real kit and the emulators as well).

[johnny99]

Jack,

Sorry mate, I guess I was a bit out of order there. You don't need to justify what you find interesting; no doubt what I find interesing would cause others to despair. Identifying this sort of kit from these sort of pictures requires skill and I take my hat off to those who can do it. I certainly wouldn't have a clue.

[NutLoose]

Sorry for posting the first reply and sending it off track

[KiloDeltaYankee]

I thought I was the only SAM spotter!

Can anyone guess the type and location of these that I took?







KDY

[FlapJackMuncher]

I want an missile launcher bouncy castle.
It was my birthday last week and I've got a few quid left over.
Don't tell the wife, it'll be a suprise.

[Double Zero]

I'm sure it was Tracy Island - any second later you'd have Thunderbird 1 after you !

In fact we are desparetly short of SAM's at the moment, officialy...

[Op_Twenty]

SA-2 with Fangsong and would suggest eastern europe with the Mig-21 in the background



This one?

[WolvoWill]

Gammon!

[MAINJAFAD]

Indeed a SA-5 (museum at Gatow by any chance??), Nike Hercules behind. All of the missiles at Spade are dummies (even the ones on real launchers like the SA-6), mostly a bit of tube or a telephone pole with metal fins. The SA-2 dummies around the AN/MPS-T1 (SA2/SA3 emulator) are ex (real) British Army Thunderbird II SAM and Launchers mocked up to look like SA-2's.

[MAINJAFAD]

The aircraft in the SA-2 photo is not a Mig-21, but a SU-22. SAM's are SA-2, with Fan Song Radar, and of course you also have a Scud.

[Op_Twenty]

Could well be an SU-22 now I've looked again. It's an SA-5 from Gatow where they also have SA-2, SA-3 and Hawk, we are all being a little geeky here but tremendous fun all the same.

[KiloDeltaYankee]

Correct MAINJAFAD....anyone know the location?

KDY