The weapon that 'nemesis' drones

The last line of defense

According to The National Interest, during the military campaign in Syria, the unique Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile-gun complex has continuously attacked enemy aircraft and UAVs. In December 2017, Pantsir-S1 shot down two missiles attacking Russia's Hmeymin air base in Syria.

On the night of January 5 to 6, Syrian rebels used 13 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Russian air and naval bases in Syria. Of these, Pantsir-S1 complexes directly shot down 7/13 UAVs, the remaining 6 were achieved by electronic warfare complexes.

When Russia first began its military campaign in Syria, the Pantsir-S1 short-range self-propelled anti-aircraft missile-gun system received less attention than the S-400 Triumph long-range air defense system. According to the American magazine The National Interest, the Pantsir-S1 serves as the last line of defense, "welcoming" low-flying aircraft and helicopters, missiles, and UAVs. This ability of the Pantsir-S1 is decisive when the enemy uses missiles en masse.

If the S-400 Triumph is called a long-range air defense missile system, the combat mission of the Pantsir-S1 self-propelled air defense missile-gun system is to "capture" nearby flying objects. This system is capable of destroying objects within a radius of about 20 km and at an altitude of up to 15 km.

Pantsir-S1 is deployed for air defense missions to protect military bases, regions, small-scale industrial-administrative facilities from attacks by aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, high-precision weapons, and guided bombs; contributing to strengthening the air defense system, as well as to "take down" light armored vehicles.

Pantsir-S1 is one of the few air defense systems in the world capable of firing on the move. Pantsir-S1 is equipped with two 30mm twin-barreled cannons and 12 missiles. In addition, Pantsir-S1 is also equipped with a powerful phased array antenna network, which can detect not only large-sized targets, but even small aircraft.

According to The National Interest magazine, the US Army does not have a short-range air defense system as effective as the Pantsir-S1. The reason is that US ground forces can rely on the support of the US Air Force to "clear" the dangers in the air.

Meanwhile, Russia realizes that its military can be attacked from the air for a long time. That is why Russia develops a series of air defense systems. In addition, this magazine also notes that, in fact, the US can also use fighter jets to counter UAV attacks, but the cost that the US spends to destroy these targets is extremely high.

Editor-in-Chief of the Russian Defense Magazine Igor Korotchenko said that Russia has always been one step ahead of the US in the field of designing air defense systems. The reason for this, according to him, is primarily due to historical factors. "After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the Americans considered strategic air force as the key card to attack the Soviet Union. Therefore, the Soviet Union focused huge resources on building air defense systems. This is one of the main directions of weapons development of the Soviet Union...", the expert said.

Pantsir versions

The Pantsir-S1 air defense missile-gun system was put into service with the Russian army on November 16, 2012, according to the Decree of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. By 2015, a new air defense system with better combat characteristics called Pantsir-S2 appeared. In November 2017, a source from the Russian Ministry of Defense said that within 5 years, 19 infantry divisions had been equipped with Pantsir-S1 and Pantsir-S2.

It is expected that by 2019, the experimental design work on the potential Pantsir-SM complex will be completed. Several samples have been produced and tests are underway. Pantsir-SM requires a new high-speed missile and will have a range of detection and destruction of targets doubled compared to its predecessors Pantsir-S1 and Pantsir-S2.

Experts hope that Pantsir-SM will be able to "see" a target at a distance of 75 km and destroy it at a range of 40 km. Meanwhile, the sighting and target firing range of Pantsir-S1 are 40 and 20 km, respectively.

In an effort to increase its military presence in the Arctic region, Russia has deployed a new version of the Pantsir-SA anti-aircraft missile-gun system to suit the cold climate conditions there. Currently, the Pantsir-SA is undergoing Arctic tests.

In addition, Russia is also developing a naval version of the anti-aircraft missile-gun complex called Pantsir-ME. The tests are expected to be completed in 1-2 years. In the summer of 2017, General Director of the Almaz Central Naval Design Bureau Alexander Shlyakhtenko said that Pantsir-ME has been installed on the Molniya-class missile ship Project 1241 and is being tested in the Black Sea. The Karakurt-class small missile ships (Project 22800) will receive the first naval version of Pantsir-ME.

The Pantsir-ME can be deployed on any ship with a displacement of 300 tons, and can also be installed at fixed points, said the chief designer of sea-based air defense systems of the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP). The range of the air defense system to destroy guided missiles is 20 km. Pantsir-ME can shoot down various targets, including UAVs and aircraft.