Farrah 1, 2 (P-11 4433, 4434)

Farrah (model) [Dwayne A. Day]

The Farrah satellites were part of a series of so called Program 11 or P-11 "Subsatellite Ferrets", low orbit ELINT/SIGINT satellites to pinpoint and characterize different Radar emitters in the Soviet Union and Warsaw pact states.

The satellites were based on Lockheed's P-11 bus, which was designed to fit on the aft rack of the Agena-D upper stage or later on a rack on the KH-9 Hexagon reconnaissance satellite. The bus contained each one or two focused payload black boxes and different antenna configurations according to payload, as well as deployable solar arrays. The satellite featured two solid rocket motors, which allowed them to rise and circularize their orbit after deployment from the host satellite. Both spin or gravity gradient stabilization was possible.

The Farrah satellites were the ultimate culmination of the P-11 project. It combined the monopulse D/F of Ursala with the TI capability of Raquel. It also included an onboard digital processor providing geopositioning to allow intercept of the most sophisticated radars.

FARRAH was the only SIGINT satellite collector capable of collecting data in botb the northern and southern hemispheres. This capability was used very effectively to provide the only SIGINT satellite support for British forces during the Falklands War.

These subsatellites were deployed directly from KH-9 Hexagon reconnaissance satellites. They used two solid-fuel kick-motors to maneuver themselves into their operational orbits after deployment.

At least two Farrah satellites have been build, but the identification is tenative. Reportedly these satellites operated until 2007.