Barlock Early Warning Radar?

Iraq (IQ)

If these are Barlock Early Warning Radar positions, thanks to Analogman's tutelage, they would traditionally accompany SA-5 missiles and occassionally SA-2s. They are raised above ground to provide better coverage of low flying threats like cruise missiles.

Barlock Early Warning Radar?

Iraq (IQ)

Military - Anti-Aircraft
By: pdunn

Nearby:

Lake Thartar Palace

Earth Circles

Remote Bunkers Destroyed

Al Ramadi Stadium

Iraqi Fighters on Edge of Airstrip

Where The Insurgents Are

Habbaniyah Airport

Iraqi Aircraft Boneyard

Iraqi Transport in Field

Iraqi Fighter Hidden on Riverbank

Comments

kjfitz

@ 2005-11-28 14:43:39

I suppose these could be defending the Tharthar Presidential Palace just to the SE. No other missile sites around though and what would be the point of radars with out missiles. Maybe the small mounds are missiel sites?

kjfitz

@ 2005-11-28 14:52:13

Actually the palace is the the SW. Here's a good breakdown of the area:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/tharthar-cc-imagery.htm

This page mentions air defenses:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/tharthar-cc.htm

Analogman

@ 2005-11-28 17:05:43

I don't see any equipment on top of the mounds, but they could quite posibly be meant to hold radar. I can't think of too many reasons to build large mounds with roads leading up the side, unless one intended to drive something to the top.

You might have notice, perhaps not, an amusement park located in the NW corner of the residential development SSE of the mounds. This is the Tharthar Presidential palace area.

GlobalSecurity.org has some good info and images here:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/tharthar-cc-imagery.htm

romulusnr

@ 2005-11-29 13:18:21

Isn't that awfully nice brickwork making those mounds to be used for military purposes?

The central one (slightly north of the others and larger) shows brickwork all within, while the others are still dirt (or concrete?) in the middle.

Analogman

@ 2005-11-29 18:00:20

Normally, yes, it would be excessive. However comma these were visible from the exclusive Lake Tharthar compound, playground and summer homes of Baath Party elites. It is quite possible they were decorated so the privileged ones would not have to look at plain dirt mounds.

pdunn

@ 2005-11-29 18:55:03

Directly south there are three similar, though unpaved, mounds in miniture that Global Security.Org has pegged as Anti-Aircraft Guns.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/dg-tharthar4.jpg

In the article accompanying the satelite imagery, Global Security.Org stated that at one point Weapons Inspectors requested the anti-air defenses of the complex be relocated away from the residential areas to remove suspiscion of the palace complex being used for activities other than presidential means.