Drones and defense: Who's really causing Moscow's damage?
Ukrainians are attacking Moscow with drones, but part of the destruction results from Russian air defenses. We present what hit the building and explain why.
Ukrainians continuously target Moscow with drones, but Russians themselves are responsible for some of the damage. Although Russian propaganda typically blames Ukrainians for incidents like this, the truth is much simpler.
The two-stage construction of the 57E6 missile can be problematic
The missile fragment in the image is the booster of a two-stage rocket used in Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. These systems were even placed on government building rooftops using German cranes and later incorporated into the anti-aircraft tower systems around Moscow.
The missiles used in the Pantsir-S1 system consist of two stages. The first is a propulsion section that detaches after about 2 seconds, designed to accelerate the missile to approximately Mach 3.8 (about 4,265 feet/s). The second stage, containing a rocket engine with different operational characteristics, a warhead, and a guidance system, then proceeds toward the target.
This design causes the discarded burned-out booster to eventually land somewhere, still with enough kinetic energy to puncture a wall. In open areas, this is not a huge problem, though it can cause fires. However, the situation is different in urban areas.
Pantsir-S1 - Russia's lowest-level air defense shield
Russian Pantsir-S1 systems were introduced into the Russian armed forces in 2012, although work on them began in the 1990s. These systems were meant to be a more economical alternative to the 2K22 Tunguska artillery-missile system. A similar cost-reduction approach was adopted in France, where the new system was mounted on a truck chassis.
The Pantsir-S1 project faced financial difficulties that nearly led to its cancellation. However, the United Arab Emirates showed interest in this promising system and provided financial support. Thanks to UAE investments, the project was completed, and the first Pantsir-S1 units were shipped to foreign clients before they even reached Russian units. For example, the United Arab Emirates began using this system at the start of the 21st century.
The Pantsir-S1 system is equipped with two radars, each serving a specific purpose: one for target detection and the other for weapon guidance. Its arsenal includes two automatic 30 mm guns, each capable of firing 2,500 rounds per minute, and anti-aircraft missile launchers.
These launchers contain 12 57E6 or 57E6-E missiles arranged in two sections of six each, allowing simultaneous firing at multiple targets. The missiles have a range of up to 12 miles and are radio-command guided, making them fully dependent on the launcher until they reach the target.
