Russia wants an UAV-killer machine based on Pantsir-S system

Published on: December 20, 2013 at 11:23 PM

Russia Defense Ministry said on Dec. 18 that Russia is upgrading its Pantsir-S air defense systems with enhancements that will improve their capability to intercept UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).

The modernized Pantsir-S systems will not only be able to detect and engage drones more effectively, but also be adapted for deployment in harsh climate conditions of the Arctic, where Russia is reactivating an airfield after 20 years.

Pantsir-S (SA-22 Greyhound) is based on a wheeled vehicle which combines two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 short-range missiles along with a radar system.

It’s a system designed for point and area protection of sensitive targets from all kind of targets, from ground to 15,000 feet, range up to 20 km, moving at speed up to 1,000 m/s. Since it is believed to be able to detect small moving objects as well as stealth aircraft, it is unclear what enhancement will make the about 50 Pantsir systems serving with the Russian Air Force capable to better fight UAVs.

By 2015, Russian military will start receiving the new Pantsir-SM systems according to the Russian MoD.

 
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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