ZRPK Pantsir-S

Main article: Shell (air defense systems)

Pantsir-S is an anti-aircraft missile and cannon complex (ZRPK) developed by the Shipunov Tula Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering (part of NPO High-Precision Complexes OJSC).

"Pantsir-S" is capable of hitting all modern and promising means of air attack at ranges up to 20 km at an altitude of up to 15 km. The speed of the anti-aircraft missile 57Ye6 - 1300 meters per second. ZRPK can simultaneously work on four targets, be used to destroy not only air, but also ground and sea targets, manpower. Able to fire in motion and from a place, as well as from short stops.

2024: Building missiles to destroy small drones

On January 23, 2024, it became known about the creation of missiles in Russia to destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles. Soon the development will be applied in the zone of the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.

As an informed source told RIA Novosti, by January 23, 2024, tests of anti-drone mini-missiles are ending. These missiles are needed primarily to destroy small drones, quadcopters and FPV drones, which are used on the combat contact line in large quantities.

Pantsir-SM air defense system

According to the agent's interlocutor, these mini-missiles will be used by the modernized Pantsir-SM anti-aircraft missile systems, which will enter the special operation zone from 2023. Mini-missiles have a layout standard for the complex, however, due to their significantly reduced size, one combat vehicle can be equipped with 48 anti-drone instead of 12 standard missiles.

The new missiles, as the informant emphasized, are much cheaper than standard missiles, so you don't have to hit enemy drones with ammunition that costs many times more than the target. At this point, by January 23, 2024, it is not specified exactly when the Russian military will be able to adopt new anti-drone missiles for the Pantsir-SM air defense system.

As the publication "Military Review" writes, in the modernized version of the ZRPK "Pantsir-SM" all the shortcomings inherent in the base model have been corrected. The complex received a new multifunctional aiming station with an active phased antenna array, which allows you to "see" targets at a range of up to 75 km. The aiming range of the new complex has been increased to 40 km. The complex is capable of recognizing and hitting all types of unmanned aerial vehicles, the publication says.^[1]

2023: Rostec: Pantsir ZRPK shoot down 100% of HIMARS missiles

Improved Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems (ZRPK) are capable of shooting down all High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) missiles. Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the Rostec cluster of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemistry, spoke about this in mid-July 2023.

The effectiveness of the Pantsir ZRPK, finalized as a result of the special operation, in terms of counteracting the shells of the American-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) reaches 100% in some cases, he said in a conversation with TASS.

ZRPK "Shell" shoot down 100% of HIMARS missiles

According to Ozdoev, after the enemy's appearance of the HIMARS MLRS, the specialists of the High-Precision Complexes holding finalized the Pantsir to intercept the shells of these systems.

Today we see examples of successful counteraction to HIMARS strikes with our ZRPK. There are precedents when all 12 of the 12 launched shells of the American MLRS are shot down, - added the top manager of Rostec.

In May 2023, High-Precision Complexes already talked about the fact that Pantsir was finalized taking into account the experience of a special military operation, in particular to combat the HIMARS MLRS.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the calculations of the "Shells" as part of a special operation detect and destroy several targets in the sky each shift. Their systems allow operators to calculate in the sky both winged and ballistic missiles, helicopters, aircraft or MLRS shells of the Soviet and Western model, and domestic drones measuring 30 by 30 cm, which the intelligence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine often uses to study the area, as well as as kamikaze drones.

According to TASS, by July 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are represented by a modification of the Pantsir-C1 with a multi-channel system for capturing and tracking targets. It is capable of hitting aerial targets flying at speeds up to 1000 m/s, at a distance of 200 m to 20 km.^[2]

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