Ukraine's withdrawal spotlights Russian Pantsir-S1 vulnerabilities
The Ukrainians have decided to withdraw from the northern part of the occupied territory in the Kursk region. The current defense line now includes the area around the city of Sudzha. However, this has not stopped them from inflicting losses on the Russians, particularly in terms of valuable equipment, which often explodes in a very dramatic way. We explain why the Pantsir-S1 systems are crucial for Russia.
The video below captures a moment of impact that led to a spectacular explosion, resulting in the self-ignition of several rocket engines, which flew off in random directions. The event was reportedly recorded by a Russian soldier stationed in the Kursk region.
Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems: A Russian export hit financed by Arab money
The Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems, introduced into service by the Russian armed forces in 2012, are Russia's latest solution for combating drones, cruise missiles, and helicopters, succeeding the expensive 2K22 Tunguska systems.
Interestingly, the Pantsir-S1 system, a significant Russian export success in the last decade, would not have been developed without financial backing from Arab countries in the 1990s. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was seeking an artillery-missile system and agreed to fund Russian development efforts, receiving the first Pantsir-S1 systems mounted on German trucks in the early 2000s.
Pantsir-S1: A valuable Russian system for defending against drones
The Pantsir-S1 is equipped with two radars: one for target detection and the other for weapon guidance. It features two 2A38M automatic cannons with a caliber of 1 inch, each capable of firing up to 2,500 rounds per minute, along with anti-aircraft missile launchers.
The gun section of the system offers a wide range of ammunition and allows targeting at a distance of up to 2.5 miles at a very low cost, which is crucial in combating Ukrainian "corn bombers" or other drones. The missile section contains 12 missiles, grouped in sets of six, enabling the Pantsir-S1 to engage several targets simultaneously. According to the Russians, the command-guided missiles can target distances of up to 12.5 miles and altitudes of up to 9.3 miles.
The system is not a "fire-and-forget" type, as operators must guide the missiles until impact. Additionally, compared to modern systems like Skynex, the Russian solution does not use programmable ammunition. Recordings have shown that the Pantsir-S1 can struggle to intercept modern stealth technology cruise missiles, such as Storm Shadow, or small drones like the Polish Warmate, or even DIY FPV types.
