Russian mishap in Sochi: Russia’s Pantsir-S1 system flips while protecting Putin's residence

A video has surfaced online showcasing the Pantsir-S1 system overturning while making a turn on a standard road. This incident raises questions about the stability of the system and the driver's skills. The mishap occurred in Sochi, where the Pantsir-S1s guard Vladimir Putin's winter residence.

The Pantsir-S1 is one of Russia's newest and most crucial anti-aircraft systems, with a history of the 1990s. At that time, Russia sought a more affordable alternative to the expensive 2K22 Tunguska system. Their solution was to mount the weaponry on the chassis of a standard KamAZ military truck, aiming to cut operating costs compared to a tracked chassis significantly.

However, the 1990s proved challenging for Russia, causing delays in the Pantsir program due to financial constraints. The system's fortunes changed when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expressed interest, becoming the first users of the Pantsir-S1 system, which was mounted on a German truck chassis. Russia did not adopt its variant on a Kamaz truck until 2012.

The Pantsir-S1 system boasts a pair of automatic cannons, precisely the 2A38M caliber 30 mm, with a firing rate of up to 2500 rounds per minute each. These cannons can engage targets up to 2.5 miles away with a diverse range of ammunition. Moreover, the system includes a missile launcher with 12 anti-aircraft missiles, 57E6 or 57E6-E, organized into six sections to engage multiple targets simultaneously. The range of these missiles extends to about 12.4 miles, and they rely on radio commands for guidance, making them reliant on the launcher until reaching their target. For target detection, the system employs an onboard IR sensor and radar capable of tracking targets over 18.6 miles away.