A pair of weapons that can help Russia overcome the power of the US air force

In late January, Russia announced that its Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense system would be equipped with new missiles to deal with small, low-altitude targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Experts say that the combination of the Pantsir-S1 and the S-400 long-range air defense system will create a multi-layered defense network that is superior to the US and the West, according toBusiness Insider.

Dubbed "Gvozd" (Screw), the new missile is one-quarter the size of Pantsir's original 57E6 missile, allowing a single launcher to hold up to four Gvozd missiles. As a result, a complete Pantsir-S1 combat vehicle can carry up to 48 anti-UAV missiles.

Countering small, explosive-laden UAVs is a major problem for militaries around the world. The Islamic State (IS) and other militant groups in the Middle East have found them to be useful weapons, with the drone swarm attack on two Russian bases in Syria last month being a prime example of this tactic. In addition to electronic warfare systems, the addition of Gvozd missiles could help Russia bolster its defenses against the threat of UAVs in Syria.

The Pantsir system has been in service with the Russian army since 2012 with the main role of point defense, destroying low-flying targets in a certain area. The combat system consists of two 2A38M automatic cannons with 1,500 30mm bullets, a range of 4 km and a maximum rate of fire of 5,000 rounds/minute. Each Pantsir-S1 vehicle is also equipped with 12 short-range 57E6 missiles capable of destroying targets from a distance of 20 km.

Meanwhile, the S-400 Triumf system is designed to deal with long-range targets, using four different types of missiles with a range of 400 km. Each S-400 complex can track and attack up to 80 targets at the same time, creating a protective umbrella for a large geographical area.

Military expert Ben Brimelow believes that the combination of the S-400 and Pantsir-S1 will create a multi-layered air defense network, in which the S-400 is responsible for long-range defense against bombers, fighters and ballistic missiles, while the Pantsir-S1 protects the S-400 system itself against cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft and UAVs.

This is why Russia deployed both complexes to Syria, where President Vladimir Putin declared that they would ensure superiority for the Russian air force in the skies.

Russian air defense strategy

"This will help increase the power of the air defense system. A multi-layered defense network is always better than a single system," said Jeffrey Edmonds, a Russian defense policy expert at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA).

Compared to Russia, the US does not possess a point defense system. Washington's strategy relies mainly on the MIM-104 Patriot medium-range air defense missile, the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger self-propelled air defense system and the FIM-92 Stinger shoulder-fired missile.

Expert Edmonds said Russia has a superior air defense system than the West because the US has never faced a modern air force with overwhelming power. In addition, Moscow has also developed a defense strategy specifically to deal with Washington's air power.

Military campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Yugoslavia show that the US prefers to use a new type of warfare model, mobilizing air power to destroy most targets and win without deploying ground troops. "Russia's multi-layered air defense systems are designed to counter this threat," Mr. Edmonds asserted.