Ukrainian tactical retreat exposes vulnerabilities in russian Pantsir-S1 systems
The Ukrainians have chosen to withdraw from the northern part of the occupied territory in the Kursk region, with their current defence line encompassing the area around the city of Sudzha. However, this has not prevented them from inflicting losses on the Russians in terms of highly valued equipment, which frequently explodes in a remarkably dramatic fashion. We clarify why the Pantsir-S1 systems are significant for Russia.
The video below captures the moment of impact by an unidentified object, leading to a spectacular explosion that caused several rocket engines to self-ignite and scatter in random directions. The event was reportedly filmed by a Russian soldier stationed in the Kursk region.
Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems - a Russian export success funded by Arab money
The Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems, introduced into the Russian armed forces in 2012, represent Russia's latest innovation for combating drones, cruise missiles, and helicopters, taking over from the costly 2K22 Tunguska systems.
Interestingly, the Pantsir-S1 system, a Russian export success of the last decade, would not have been developed without the financial backing from Arab investors in the 1990s. At that time, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was in search of 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 another for weapon guidance. It includes two 2A38M automatic cannons with a calibre of 25 mm, each capable of firing up to 2,500 rounds per minute, alongside anti-aircraft missile launchers.
The gun component of the system offers a diverse range of ammunition and enables targeting at distances up to 4 km at a very low cost, which is crucial in counteracting Ukrainian "corn bombers" or other drones. The missile section contains 12 missiles, arranged in groups of six, allowing for engagement of several targets at once. According to the Russians, the command-guided missiles can target distances up to 20 km and altitudes up to 15 km.
This system is not a "fire-and-forget" type, as operators must continually guide the missiles until impact. Furthermore, compared to modern systems like Skynex, the Russian system does not employ programmable ammunition. Additionally, there are recordings demonstrating that the Pantsir-S1 may struggle to intercept modern stealth technology cruise missiles such as Storm Shadow or small drones like the Polish Warmate, or even DIY FPV types.
