Russia has developed a new type of close-range mini-missiles for its Pantsir air defense system, designed to intercept and destroy of drones and other low-flying targets. The new missiles were showcased at the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Russia also offered to localize the production of the Pantsir system for its partner countries.
“At the High Precision Weapons stand, KBP presented the entire range of missiles for the Pantsir, including a new short-range interception mini-missile for combating UAVs and other similar targets” a representative of High-Precision Weapons holding company said.
The new mini-missiles are part of the Pantsir-S1M development, which aims to increase the effectiveness of the system against new threats of massive drone engagement. The mini-missiles can be loaded in 48 units on the Pantsir launcher, compared to 12 units of the standard missiles.
According to High Precision Weapons (KBP), the developer of the Pantsir system, mini-missiles have high maneuverability and accuracy and can hit aerial targets at close range and in a confined space. It is expected that the mini-missiles will complete tests in 2024 and enter service.
The Pantsir-S1M system is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun-missile (SPAAGM) system that combines a 30 mm cannons and surface-to-air missiles in a single platform. It can engage targets at altitudes from 15 to 18,000 meters and at distances from 200 meters to 30 km. It can also operate in all weather conditions and in complex jamming environments.
The Pantsir system has been praised by its users for its performance in real combat situations, especially in the Middle East, where it has been deployed by Russia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. The system has demonstrated its ability to shoot down rockets, artillery shells, and drones, including those launched in large numbers by modern multiple rocket launchers (MRLS) of Western origin.
Rosoboronexport, the Russian defense export agency, has reported a high demand for the Pantsir system from various regions of the world, especially from the Middle East countries that traditionally equip their armies with the cutting-edge armament. The agency has also offered a unique cooperation format to friendly countries, which consists of localizing the production of the Pantsir system on the customer’s territory, thus creating jobs and enhancing the technological capabilities of the host country.
Naturally, Middle East countries that traditionally equip their armies with the cutting-edge armament are among top importers.
Middle East partners of Rosoboronexport are enthusiastic about capabilities of the Pantsir air defense missile and gun system in the special military operation’s zone, CEO of the Russian defense export agency Alexander Mikheev told TASS at the World Defense Show 2024.
“We often hear from foreign partners, including from the Middle East countries, enthusiastic reviews of videos of the Russian Ministry of Defense with the footage of Pantsir combat operation in the special military operation’s zone. The partners were particularly impressed by the one hundred percent destruction of rocket projectiles launched in a single salvo from modern MLRS of Western manufacturers,” Mikheev said.
“The partners were especially impressed by the 100% destruction of projectiles fired in one salvo from modern MRLS produced by Western manufacturer”, said Rosoboronexport’s CEO.
The Pantsir system has also seen use in Africa, where it has been deployed by both Algeria, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has taken measures to enhance the protection of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by deploying state-of-the-art Russian-made Pantsir air defense systems.
This move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions surrounding the dam’s filling, which has raised concerns among downstream countries, such as Egypt and Sudan, over the potential impact on their water security.
As of the year 2020, Regarding the Pantsir-S system, Valery Slugin, chief designer for air defense systems of KBP Instrument Design Bureau (Pantsir’s developer and producer) announced that Pantsir-S air defense systems during the entire period of their combat use had shot down about a 100 unmanned aerial vehicles in various regions of the world.