Russia develops Mini-Missiles for Pantsir defense system to counter drones.

Russia has developed a new type of short-range mini-missiles for its Pantsir-S1 air defense system, aimed at intercepting and destroying drones and other low-flying aerial targets. These new missiles were unveiled at the second World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Russia also proposed localizing the production of the Pantsir system for its partner countries.
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New Pantsir S1 mini-missiles at World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia in 2024 (Picture source : Army Recognition)

The mini-missiles are part of the development of the Pantsir-S1, intended to enhance the system's effectiveness against new threats of mass drone engagement. The mini-missiles can be loaded in groups of 48 on the Pantsir launcher, compared to the 12 units of standard missiles.

According to KBP Instrument Design Bureau (KBP), the developer of the Pantsir system, the mini-missiles have high maneuverability and accuracy, capable of hitting aerial targets at close range and in confined spaces. The mini-missiles are expected to complete testing in 2024 and enter service.

The Pantsir-S1 system is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun-missile (SPAAGM) system that combines 30 mm cannons and surface-to-air missiles on a single platform. It can engage targets at altitudes from 15 to 18,000 meters and at distances from 200 meters to 30 km. It is also operable in all weather conditions and in complex jamming environments.

The Pantsir system has been praised by its users for its performance in real combat situations, especially in the Middle East where it has been deployed by Russia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. The system has proven its ability to shoot down rockets, artillery shells, and drones, including those launched in large numbers by modern multiple rocket launchers (MRLS) of Western origin.

Rosoboronexport, the Russian defense export agency, has reported strong demand for the Pantsir system from various regions of the world, particularly from Middle Eastern countries that traditionally equip their armies with advanced armaments. The agency has also offered a unique cooperation format to friendly countries, involving localizing the production of the Pantsir system on the customer's territory, thereby creating jobs and enhancing the host country's technological capabilities.

The Pantsir system has also been deployed in Africa by Algeria, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, and Ethiopia. Ethiopia has taken steps to enhance the protection of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by deploying advanced Russian-made Pantsir air defense systems.

This move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions surrounding the dam's filling, which has raised concerns among downstream countries, such as Egypt and Sudan, about the potential impact on their water security.

In 2020, Valery Slugin, chief designer for air defense systems at KBP Instrument Design Bureau, announced that the Pantsir air defense systems had shot down approximately 100 unmanned aerial vehicles in various regions of the world since their initial deployment in combat.

Defense News February 2024