OVERVIEW:  The SPO-15 Beryoza aka L-006 airborne radar warning receiver (RWR) is a passive airborne sensor that detects and warns aircrew of hostile radars.

DETAILS: 
  The SPO-15 Beryoza used three or four antenna installed on different quadrants of an aircraft to locate threat radars that were "painting" the aircraft. The system provides warning of threat radars in 360° (azimuth) and ±30° (elevation) around the aircraft. The system then provided the aircrew with an audible alert and a visual threat axis.  Unlike earlier generations of RWR, it can detect pulse doppler radar and frequency agile radars. The SPO-15M is capable of automatic chaff dispensing.

According to some pilots, the system does not operate properly when the aircraft radar and on-board jammers are simultaneously employed and does not properly warn of lock-on by radars operating in the track-while-scan mode.


Specifications:

	Frequency:	4.4-10.35 Ghz
	Accuracy:		± 10° (forward hemisphere); ± 45° (rear hemisphere)
	
			
NOTES:  IOC 1978 (approx). 
 

SOURCES: Mladenov, Alexander. Soviet Cold War Fighters. Fonthill Media, 2017, (Kindle ed., locations 4269, 4824; International Electronic Countermeasures Handbook, 2004 "SPQ-15 Beryoza." pg. 77. ; Friedman, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998. Annapolis, MD: Naval Inst Press, 1997, pg. 516; "L006lM (SPO-15) Illumination Warning Station." Deftech Global Limited. Accessed January 14, 2022. https://deftech-ltd.com/products/helicopter-aircraft/protection-and-survivability-enhancement-equipment/284-l006lm-spo-15-illumination-warning-station.html ; "Shenyang J-11 Multirole Fighter Aircraft, China." Thai Military and Asian Region. Last modified February 4, 2021. https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/shenyang-j-11-multirole-fighter-aircraft-china/.


