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US HIMARS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Destroys Russian Pantsir-S1 Air Defense System in Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces, in coordination with aerial reconnaissance, destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system in Donetsk. The operation, carried out by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, involved the use of the American M142 HIMARS rocket system, known for its precision and destructive power.
Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile with an American HIMARS. (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)
The attack, which is believed to have occurred in the summer of 2024, was only recently documented and shared by the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, known as the Black Forest Brigade. A video of the destruction, captured by a Ukrainian Shark drone, shows the Pantsir-S1 system deployed in a combat position near a forest belt along a highway.
The targeted Pantsir-S1 system was identified and tracked by reconnaissance drones, which relayed its coordinates to artillery units. Subsequently, two GMLRS M30A1 precision-guided missiles, launched from the HIMARS system, struck the target. These missiles, equipped with warheads containing approximately 180,000 tungsten carbide balls, detonated in the air the Pantsir-S1, causing considerable damage. The detonation of the system's own missiles, combined with the possible ignition of the rocket fuel in the anti-aircraft missile engines, likely led to the destruction of the Pantsir-S1.
This strike is part of a broader effort by Ukrainian forces to neutralize Russian air defense systems. In a similar operation in August 2024, the 140th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion destroyed another Pantsir-S1 system in the Kherson region. During their reconnaissance activities, the battalion identified and neutralized the system, which was deployed near the village of Chaplynka.
The Pantsir-S1 is a Russian mobile air defense system designed to intercept a wide range of threats, including missiles, aircraft, and drones. This system is mounted on a truck chassis, typically an 8x8 wheeled vehicle like the Ural-53234 or Kamaz-6560. It combines 57E6 surface-to-air missiles and 30 mm 2A38M automatic cannons to provide both medium- and short-range coverage. The Pantsir-S1 has autonomous detection and tracking radars, along with a radio command system to guide its missiles. Its missile firing range is between 1 and 12 kilometers, while the 30 mm cannons can reach targets at distances from 200 to 4000 meters. With a detection capability of up to 800 km, this system is used by several countries, including Russia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Its total weight is typically around 20 tons, and it is designed to provide defense against aerial attacks in hard-to-access areas.
The HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is an American mobile rocket launch system used to conduct long-range precision strikes. It can fire six rockets from the MLRS series or one ATACMS tactical missile. The system is mounted on a lightweight truck chassis, such as the 6x6 M1140 wheeled vehicle, allowing it great mobility in the field and a maximum speed of 85 km/h. The HIMARS is used by several countries, including the United States, Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. It offers a firing range that varies from 45 km with ER-MLRS rockets to up to 300 km with ATACMS missiles. Although lightweight, it is equipped with protection against small arms fire and shell splinters. The crew consists of three members, and the vehicle weighs approximately 10,886 kg. The HIMARS is particularly valued for its ability to strike quickly and accurately at long distances while offering great flexibility on the battlefield due to its mobility.
These strikes highlight the continued effectiveness of the HIMARS system in countering Russian air defenses, contributing to Ukraine's efforts to eliminate key military targets and disrupt enemy capabilities in contested regions such as Donetsk and Kherson.