Russia tested latest Pantsir-SM air defense system.

The Russian army tested the latest Pantsir-SM antiaircraft missile-guns system at Ashuluk range, in Astrakhan region, last March, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces Yuri Grekhov said. "Pantsir-SM displayed its effectiveness against super small targets of quadcopter type," he told Echo Moskvy radio station, adding a device was also tested to divert or land a drone.

Pantsir-SM on KamAZ K-53958 8×8 chassis (Picture source: Russian TV)

The Pantsir-SM is to replace the Pantsir-S1 but remains compatible with it. The Pantsir-SM is superior to the Pantsir-S1 by 1.5-2 times. It incorporates a multi-functional targeting radar station, increasing target detection range from 40 to 75 km and engagement range from 20 to 40 km, thus twice more efficient than the current Pantsir-S1. The weapon station is fitted on a new KamAZ K-53958 8×8 chassis with armored cab.

First drawing released in 2017 to illustrate the Pantsir-SM

Pantsir-SM spotted for the first time at Army-2017 (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)