Radiotechnical Short-Range Navigation System (RSBN)

This provided azimuth and range data between altitudes of 40 km and 4 km and consisted of a 40 kg on-board set (17M902) and an E-329 beacon located mid-field off the east side of the runway. The RSBN ground station beacon continuously trans­mitted pulse pairs on its assigned frequency to Buran’s on-board RSBN receiving equipment. RSBN is the equivalent of the Space Shuttle’s Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) system, but unlike TACAN, which is the Shuttle’s primary navigation aid during most of the final descent, it only played a back-up role to the RDS. There was only one RSBN set aboard Buran, as compared with three TACAN sets on the Shuttle Orbiter. The RSBN was compatible both with Buran-specific ground station beacons and standard beacons used in aviation. This meant that RSBN was the prime navigation aid for emergency landings on runways not equipped with the RDS system.