Russian anti-aircraft vehicle Pantsir-S received hypersonic missiles

The Russian anti-aircraft system Pantsir-S (Панцирь-С) has received the latest hypersonic missile, said Valery Slugin – chief designer for air defense systems Instrument Design Bureau named. Shipunova (part of Roste) quoted in Russian State media.

According to Slugin, the new hypersonic missile can fly faster to the target hence increasing the rate of fire the system. He noted that the Pantsir missiles are not equipped with Infrared homing passive weapon guidance system  heads as at ranges at which the system operates the targeting process is managed through the remote control system of the missile from the vehicle.

“There are two missiles, they are struggling with the whole range of targets. One is standard, the other is newly developed, it is hypersonic – its speed is 5 Machs and more,” Slugin said.

“In addition, you don’t need to put a lot of explosives in the warhead to disperse the fragments – higher impact speed, higher fragment efficiency,” the designer added.

About the Pantsir-S System

The Pantsir missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems. Pantsir-S1 is the first version and is a combined short to medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon system produced by KBP of Tula, Russia.

The Pantsir-S system is designed for the protection of civilian and military targets from air attack in any weather, climate and radio-electronic environment, day and night. 

The system consists of 12 anti-aircraft guided missiles (six missiles in two transport and launch containers) and two 30 mm cannons. The system  uses phased array radars for both target acquisition and tracking.