US delivers mortar radars, training to Ukraine

The US Army has delivered lightweight counter-mortar radars for the Ukrainian Army and performed mortar round tracking training, it has been announced.

A US army team, which included two Tobyhanna army depot technicians, spent two weeks at the international peacekeeping and security centre in Yavoriv, Ukraine. During this time, they trained Ukrainian soldiers to deploy, operate and troubleshoot the radars.

The training included classroom instruction, hands-on equipment assembly and disassembly, tactical deployment and emplacement. The team taught a cadre of Ukraine army officers how to use the radars.

Ed Mickley, a depot spokesman, US army, said: 'Practical real-world experience was the focus of the radar training.'

The counter-mortar radars, which backtrack incoming mortar rounds, are the first to be delivered so that the Ukrainian armed forces can be trained on their use. They are part of a $118 million equipment and training commitment by the US to assist the Ukrainian armed forces.

Electronics technicians at the depot's production engineering directorate had to modify the radars to accept the standard 220V electrical power supply in Europe.