Drone strikes on Moscow expose flaws in Russian defenses
Ukrainians are attacking Moscow with drones, but part of the destruction results from activities of Russian air defence systems. We explain what hit the building and why this occurred.
Ukrainians continuously target Moscow with drones. However, the Russians themselves are responsible for some of the destruction. Although Russian propaganda typically claims incidents like the one described below are the fault of the Ukrainians, the truth is more straightforward.
The two-stage construction of the 57E6 missile can be problematic
The missile fragment in the image is a booster of a two-stage missile used in Pantsir-S1 air defence systems. These systems were even placed on the roofs of government buildings using German cranes and later integrated into anti-aircraft tower systems built 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 a speed of approximately Mach 3.8 (about 1,300 m/s). The second stage, containing a rocket engine with different operational characteristics, a warhead, and a guidance system, proceeds toward the target.
This construction causes the discarded burned-out booster to eventually fall somewhere, still possessing enough kinetic energy to pierce a wall. In open terrain, this typically isn't a huge problem, although it can cause a fire. However, the situation is different in built-up areas.
Pantsir-S1 - Russia's lowest-level air defence shield
Russian Pantsir-S1 systems were introduced into the Russian Armed Forces in 2012, even though 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 used in France, where the new system was placed on a truck chassis.
The Pantsir-S1 project faced financial difficulties that almost led to its termination. However, the United Arab Emirates showed interest in this promising system and provided financial support. Thanks to investments from the UAE, the project was completed, and the first Pantsir-S1 units were shipped to foreign clients before reaching 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 different purpose: one detects targets and the other guides weapons. Its arsenal includes two automatic 30 mm guns, each capable of firing 2,500 rounds per minute, and anti-aircraft missile launchers.
These contain twelve 57E6 or 57E6-E missiles arranged in two sections of six each, allowing simultaneous firing at several targets. The missiles have a range of up to 19 kilometres and are radio-command guided, making them fully dependent on the launcher until they hit the target.
