OVERVIEW:  The Smerch-A3 aka FOX FIRE radar is an airborne air-to-air fire-control radar operating in the NATO high I and J band.

DETAILS: 
 The Smerch-A1 as fitted to the MiG-25 used a double-waveband system, employing a second operating wavelength of 2cm in addition to the standard 3cm to ensure the radar would function even in a heavy ECM environment. The Smerch-A2 aka Izdeliye 720M gave improved reliability and was the standard production radar.  The Smerch-A3 made further improvements and was fitted to later model MiG-25Ps.

The chief drawback of the Smerch radar was it had difficulty in detecting targets below 1,640 feet due to its low-PRF radar's difficulty in coping with ground clutter.   


Specifications:

	Frequency:	10, 15 GHz (approx.) (I/J-band (NATO))
	PRF:		?? Reported to be low PRF
	Pulse width:	??
	Power: 		600 kW (peak); ?? (average) 
	Scan Limits:	120 degrees azimuth, 30 degrees elevation.
	Range:
	    Search:	54 nm (16 m2 RCH,Tu-16-sized tgt) 
	    Track:	27 nm (16 m2 RCH,Tu-16-sized tgt) 

NOTES:  Used in the MiG-25P.
 

SOURCES: Mladenov, Alexander. Soviet Cold War Fighters. Fonthill Media, 2017, location 3497, 3826 (Kindel ed.) ; Jane's Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems, "Sapfir Series Radars," 19 October 2000; "[1.0] MiG-25 Foxbat." AirVectors. Accessed December 22, 2021. https://www.airvectors.net/avmig25_1.html.;
"MiG Alley." Chicago Web Design Company - Professional Website Designers - Chicago, IL | Toad Web DesignChicago Web Design Company – Professional Website Designers – Chicago, IL | Toad Web Design | Web Design Company | WebSite Design Company | Professional Website Design | Wordpress Web Design. Accessed December 22, 2021. https://toad-design.com/migalley/index.php/jet-aircraft/mig25/mig25-smerch-radar/. ; DIA, "Special Equipment Exploitation Report: The MiG-25 FOXBAT" DST-1320R-900-76-RPT 6 (24 September 1976) https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0324/1553702.pdf ; 
