Circularly disposed antenna array: Difference between revisions

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===Post-war development===

Although Pietzner, Schellhoss, and Wächtler retired in West Germany, some of their second-echelon technicians were taken to the [[USSR]] after the war. At least 30  Krug (Russian for circle) arrays were installed all over the Soviet Union and allied countries in the 1950s, well before the U.S. military became interested and developed their CDAAs. Several Krugs were installed in pairs less than 10  kilometers from each other, apparently for radio navigation purposes. At least four Krugs were installed near Moscow; just to the north, east and south ({{coord|55.46408|N|37.3698|E|scale:10000}}) of the city. The Krugs were used to track the early Sputnik satellites, using their 10 and 20 MHz beacons, and were instrumental in locating re-entry vehicles. The Soviet Krug arrays also use the 40-element CDAA configuration. [https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81T00618R000101110001-5.pdf]

The array in Skibsby was extensively studied by the British and then destroyed following the war in accordance with the Geneva Convention. Dr. Wächtler arranged to have a second array built, at Telefunken expense, at Langenargen/Bodensee, for further experimentation after the war. In the years following the war, the U.S. disassembled the Langenargen / Bodensee array and brought it back to the U.S., where it became known as the "''Wullenweber''" array.

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In 1998 the Augsburg array ({{coord|48.45121|N|10.86275|E|scale:10000}})—located in Gablingen, a town in the north of Augsburg—was turned over to the [[Bundesnachrichtendienst]]. Technology enthusiasts, reporters, and even local politicians are still not admitted to the complex and there are few official statements about its purpose. The area was greyed out in the map layers of Google Maps<ref>Remark: It was clearly visible in Google on 22&nbsp;May 2015.</ref> and Bing Maps. Therefore, it is believed to be still in service being used by BND and NSA as part of a larger complex of combined informational technology.

===Post–Cold War arrays===

Currently,{{when|date=July 2020}} the Strategic Reconnaissance Command of the [[Bundeswehr|German Armed Forces]] operates a circularly disposed array in [[Bramstedtlund]] with a diameter of {{convert|410|m}} as one of its three stationary [[Sigint]] battalions.

[[File:NASA FIRMS 2025-08-17 Chernyakhovsk CDDACDAA 0.8km.png|thumb|Satellite imagery of the CDDA0.8&nbsp;km south ofradius [[Chernyakhovsk (air base)|Chernyakhovsk airbaseCDAA]] (visible top left)]]

{{Asof|November 2020}} the Strategic Reconnaissance Command of the [[Bundeswehr|German Armed Forces]] operates as one of its three stationary [[Sigint]] battalions a {{convert|410|m}} wide circularly disposed array in [[Bramstedtlund]]. It was inaugurated in 1995 with construction started in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|title= Ein Vierteljahrhundert “Kastagnette“ |url= https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/cyber-und-informationsraum/aktuelles/ein-vierteljahrhundert-kastagnette-4184780 |work= [[Bundeswehr]] |date=2022-11-12 |access-date=2025-08-25 |lang=de |trans-title= A quarter-century Kastagnette“}}</ref>

In August 2025 media reported on [[Chernyakhovsk CDAA]], an almost finished, 1,600&nbsp;m wide circularly disposed CDDAarray circa 5&nbsp;km southeast of the [[Chernyakhovsk (air base)|Chernyakhovsk airbase]] in the [[Kaliningrad enclave]] (at {{coord|54.563|N|21.829|E|scale:5000}}).<ref>{{cite news|title= Satellite Images Appear To Show Russia Has New Spy Base on NATO's Doorstep |url= https://www.newsweek.com/russia-kaliningrad-spy-base-satellite-images-baltic-sea-nato-2117706 |work= newsweek.com |first1= Jordan |last1= King |first2= John |last2= Feng |date= 2025-08-22|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-20 |title=Putin lässt Mega-Abhörstation bauen – direkt an Nato-Grenze! |url=https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland-und-internationales/putin-laesst-mega-abhoerstation-bauen-direkt-an-nato-grenze-68a46c8ece696d388164233a |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=bild.de |language=de}}</ref> This site appears to consist of multiple rings, the most external one having diameter of more than 1,600 meters. Exploring data from [[Copernicus Programme|Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem]] it can be determined that work at the site started in March of 2023 by clearing forest and connecting the site by roads. One month later the outline of one of the rings can be seen taking shape. Steady progress can be seen from retrieved satellite data and site now consists of six concentric rings, security perimeter fence and checkpoint and road network.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Huge Antenna System is Being Built in Kaliningrad to Monitor NATO |url=https://militarnyi.com/en/news/huge-antenna-system-is-being-built-in-kaliningrad-to-monitor-nato/ |author=Vladislav V. |date=2025-08-21 |access-date=2025-08-2223 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Chernyakhovsk===

[[File:NASA FIRMS 2025-08-17 Chernyakhovsk CDDA.png|thumb|Satellite imagery of the CDDA south of [[Chernyakhovsk (air base)|Chernyakhovsk airbase]] (visible top left)]]

In August 2025 media reported on an almost finished CDDA circa 5&nbsp;km southeast of the [[Chernyakhovsk (air base)|Chernyakhovsk airbase]] in the [[Kaliningrad enclave]] (at {{coord|54.563|N|21.829|E|scale:5000}}).<ref>{{cite news|title= Satellite Images Appear To Show Russia Has New Spy Base on NATO's Doorstep |url= https://www.newsweek.com/russia-kaliningrad-spy-base-satellite-images-baltic-sea-nato-2117706 |work= newsweek.com |first1= Jordan |last1= King |first2= John |last2= Feng |date= 2025-08-22|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-20 |title=Putin lässt Mega-Abhörstation bauen – direkt an Nato-Grenze! |url=https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland-und-internationales/putin-laesst-mega-abhoerstation-bauen-direkt-an-nato-grenze-68a46c8ece696d388164233a |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=bild.de |language=de}}</ref> This site appears to consist of multiple rings, the most external one having diameter of more than 1,600 meters. Exploring data from [[Copernicus Programme|Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem]] it can be determined that work at the site started in March of 2023 by clearing forest and connecting the site by roads. One month later the outline of one of the rings can be seen taking shape. Steady progress can be seen from retrieved satellite data and site now consists of six concentric rings, security perimeter fence and checkpoint and road network.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Huge Antenna System is Being Built in Kaliningrad to Monitor NATO |url=https://militarnyi.com/en/news/huge-antenna-system-is-being-built-in-kaliningrad-to-monitor-nato/ |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==