A new batch of mobile Pantsir-S and stationary Pantsir-SMD systems has been delivered to the Russian military after factory tests and acceptance. Defence Security Asia believes that the delivery enhances the capabilities of Russia's layered air defense against mixed attacks, where different types of aerial targets are used simultaneously.
The publication noted that the updated weapon scheme of the Pantsir allows combining different types of missiles depending on the nature of the threat. According to the authors, this expands the complex's role in combating attacks that may include drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft.
This is not about creating an entirely new family of air defense systems. The publication highlights a change specifically in the ammunition architecture. One complex can use standard anti-aircraft missiles, faster interceptors, and compact missiles to combat drones. Their combination can be selected for a specific task.
For short-range air defense, this is especially important during attacks with a large number of targets. If the enemy simultaneously uses small drones and more sophisticated aerial weapons, one complex has to distribute a limited supply of missiles among targets of different classes.
It is this capability that Defence Security Asia highlights as one of the key factors of the Pantsir's new configuration. Instead of an identical set of ammunition, the system gains the ability to form an ammunition loadout taking into account the anticipated composition of the attack.
The mobile Pantsir-S is designed to cover troops and facilities from aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones. The stationary Pantsir-SMD is focused on protecting facilities and can be used in conditions of massive attacks.