Impenetrable "Pantsir": why the Russian air defense system is considered one of the most effective in the world. “Unnecessary” “Pantsir”: how the Russian air defense system turned out to be better than the “Patriot”

Development of a naval anti-aircraft missile and artillery system (ZRAK) short range"Pantsir-ME" has been completed, it has already entered mass production, TASS reported general manager state corporation "Rostec" Sergey Chemezov. The presentation of the complex will take place this year at the International Naval Show in St. Petersburg, which will be held from June 28 to July 2.

The Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau began work on the Pantsir in the early 2000s. In 2008, the first modification of the Pantsir-S1 mobile complex, based on a wheeled chassis, was put into service. Since then, Tula has significantly expanded the range of this complex, making this weapon universal. Pantsir-SA is designed for use in the Arctic. Relatively recently, the Pantsir-S2, which has improved characteristics, entered service. Tests of the Pantsir-SM, which managed to double its firing range, will soon be completed, bringing it to 40 km.

And the marine complex intended for installation on Russian ships, began mass production in 2015. This is Pantsir-M. Well, the Pantsir-ME, which Chemezov announced, is an export modification of the ship complex. It is he who will be presented on Wednesday at the St. Petersburg salon by a potential foreign buyer. And, undoubtedly, it will be in demand, since the entire line of Pantsirs is significantly superior to foreign analogs in both reaction speed and shooting accuracy.

The commercial success of this development can be predicted on the basis that land-based systems are actively being purchased by Algeria, Brazil, the UAE, Oman, Iran, Syria... To date, more than 120 units of Pantsir-S1E have been sold. And the orders keep coming.

By the way, on June 22 of the year before last, the Syrian military, using the Pantsir-S1E complex, shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom fighter that had invaded the country’s airspace. Moreover, the “Phantom” was by no means antediluvian, used by the Americans during Vietnam War. It was modernized at the Israeli aircraft factory, equipped with the latest electronic equipment. The aircraft was also equipped with electronic warfare systems capable of resisting air defense systems of previous generations. With the Pantsir, which entered service in 2008, this number did not work.

The export modification of the marine Pantsir, the start of mass production of which is being announced by the head of Rostec, is close in characteristics to the land modification Pantsir-S1, intended for use exclusively in Russian troops. “Pantsir-M”, which is “for internal use”, has absorbed the developments introduced into the Pantsir-S2 air defense missile system. Although it is impossible to talk about the identity of these two complexes, since they are intended for use in different conditions conducting combat operations. Even working in aggressive conditions marine environment imposes special requirements on Pantsir-M (as well as on Pantsir-ME). Also in offshore complexes there is an increased requirement for mechanical stabilization, which should ensure normal operation in conditions of increased sea state.

One of the main differences between Pantsir and short-range air defense systems and air defense systems of previous generations is that it approached the task of detecting and tracking targets just as seriously as when creating “large” complexes, that is, medium and medium air defense systems. long range, For example, "Buk" or S-400.

The complex uses a detection radar with a phased array antenna (PA), which has higher target detection accuracy and speed. There are also two radars with phased array tracking of captured targets. The maximum target detection range is 80 km. The tracking radar allows you to hit targets with an ESR of 0.1 sq.m. at a distance of 20 km. The maximum range for hitting targets with Pantsir-M missiles is 30 km. The target targeting speed using actuators is 100 degrees per second.

In addition to the radar, the complex also has an optical-location station (OLS) operating in the infrared and visible range. Processing of data received from locators, targeting missiles, and firing from a gun mount takes place in automatic mode without the participation of operators. The role of OLS in the complex is great. Firstly, it is a passive element that does not emit radio waves. Therefore, when the radars are turned off, it ensures the complex’s secrecy for enemy radars and anti-radar missiles. Secondly, it practically covers the range that is considered the area of responsibility of short-range air defense systems. This zone extends over 20 km, and the Pantsir OLS detects and captures enemy cruise missiles at a distance of 18 km.

Pantsir is the fastest short-range missile system in the world. Reaction time - 3−5 seconds. While at American complexes, which will be discussed below, 10 seconds. The interval between missile launches is 1.5 seconds. The same amount is spent on capturing new targets. In total, Pantsir-M contains 8 missiles on the launcher. There are 32 missiles in the below-deck storage.

The maximum altitude for hitting targets is 15 km, range is 30 km. Maximum speed intercepted targets can reach 1000 m/s. Targets with EPR from 0.03 sq.m. up to 0.06 sq.m. are hit by one missile with a probability of 0.7. The target that is minimally noticeable for the complex has an ESR of 2−3 cm, which makes it possible to combat small-sized objects up to artillery ammunition. The location system simultaneously tracks 4 targets. The missile has radio command guidance to the target. Fuses - contact and non-contact, triggered at a distance of 7-9 m from the target. The mass of the warhead is 20 kg.

The artillery unit is a twin 2A38M anti-aircraft machine gun of 30 mm caliber. Rate of fire - 5000 rounds per minute. Ammunition - 1000 rounds. Effective firing range - 4 km.

NATO systems

In NATO countries, the idea of combining missile weapons With artillery installations has not become widespread in ship-based anti-aircraft systems. Therefore, when comparing Pantsir-M with foreign analogues missile and artillery systems will have to be considered separately.

At the moment, the US and German navies are receiving RAM Block II short-range anti-aircraft missiles, newly developed jointly by German and American companies, used on the Sea RAM air defense system. It's about about trial operation, the missile is expected to be put into service next year.

The missile has a two-channel guidance system - radio command, as well as from a thermal seeker. The maximum firing range is 10 km, the altitude of hitting targets is from 4 m to 10,000 m. The maximum speed of targets hit is 700 m/s, that is, 2.2 M. This missile can fight the Granit anti-ship missile system, whose speed reaches 4 M extremely difficult. The reaction of the complex is 5-10 seconds, which is twice as bad as that of Pantsir-M. Ammunition for the Sea RAM air defense system is 11 missiles.

The British Sea Wolf short-range air defense system, which has been in operation since 1980, has approximately the same dynamic capabilities. It is equipped with two missiles whose speed exceeds 2 M. The maximum destruction range is 10 km, height is 3 km. The radar's capabilities are significantly weaker than those of its Russian counterpart. The bomber can be seen at a distance of 70 km, but targets with an ESR of 0.2 sq.m. detected at a distance of only 10 km. Although, of course, with such a firing range this is not so significant. The disadvantages include the bulkiness and very heavy weight of the complex. Fully equipped " Sea wolf"is installed only on frigates. Corvettes are content with a truncated version with fewer capabilities.

But, perhaps, the most successful Western sea-based short-range air defense system was made in France. This is Naval Crotale. Moreover, it was adopted for service in 1971. But as a result of a number of modernizations, the complex is quite modern in terms of dynamics and speed capabilities. The rocket accelerates to 2.6 M with overloads during maneuvering of up to 35 g. Reaction time - 6 seconds. The missile is guided by radio command. The interception range and altitude are quite moderate - 10 km and 6 km, respectively. Our “Shell-ME” will have to seriously compete with the French “Rattlesnake”, as the name of the complex is translated, since it is very popular in the foreign market.

Anti-aircraft artillery complex The Phalanx entered service with the US Navy in 1980. This is a six-barrel anti-aircraft machine gun of 20 mm caliber. Rate of fire - 3000 rounds/min. Effective firing range - 1.5 km, height - 1.5 km. It is assumed that the complex is capable of hitting targets with a speed of 2 M.

The Dutch ZAK "Goalkeeper" was put into mass production in the late 80s. It, like all similar complexes, uses detection and guidance radar. The Dutch took as a basis a 7-barrel 30 mm caliber cannon from the American A-10 attack aircraft and “transplanted” it onto ships. The rate of fire reaches 4200 rounds/min, the effective firing range is 3000 m.

The Russian anti-aircraft missile and gun complex "Pantsir-S" is unsurpassed weapon in the air defense system, says a military analyst for The National Interest. In his opinion, in Syria this air defense missile system gained fame as the most effective remedy to counter drone attacks, so the lack of an analogue of such a complex in the United States is a significant drawback of the American air defense. About the unique characteristics of the “Shell” - in the RT material.

S-400 air defense system and self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun complex "Pantsir-S1" (right) during combat duty at a Russian air base in Syria RIA Novosti

Armed forces The United States lacks an effective short-range air defense system like the Russian Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun system (ZRPK). This conclusion was reached by American military expert Sebastian Roblin in an article published in The National Interest magazine.

According to the analyst, the drone attack on Russian military facilities carried out on January 5 will sooner or later be repeated, but terrorist UAVs may already be directed at American bases. Meanwhile, the United States is deprived of an anti-aircraft complex that is capable of repelling a simultaneous attack from several UAVs.

“The US armed forces do not have a short-range air defense system similar to the Pantsir. This is due to the fact that the ground forces have come to rely on the ability of the Air Force to neutralize all air threats. Russian ground forces, on the contrary, always expect an attack from the air - and therefore have such a diverse arsenal of air defenses,” writes Roblin.

Director of the Air Defense Museum in Balashikha, military expert Yuri Knutov, agrees with the point of view of his American colleague from The National Interest. According to him, since cold war The United States tried not to engage in combat without ensuring complete air supremacy. In the USSR (and in Russia), on the contrary, they placed emphasis on the development of defensive systems.

“Russian military air defense, to which Pantsir belongs, is rightfully considered the best in the world. We have always been forced to take care of countering enemy high-tech aircraft. Participation in local conflicts gave our designers invaluable experience that helped create effective anti-aircraft systems and radar equipment,” Knutov said in an interview with RT.

"Efficiency - cost"

On the night of January 5-6, Pantsir-S crews repelled an attack by militant drones on the Khmeimim airbase and the Navy logistics support point in Tartus. The complexes hit 7 drones out of 13, the remaining six devices were disabled by electronic warfare (EW).

Anti-aircraft missile and gun system 96K6 "Pantsir-S1" during demonstration exercises at the Alabino training ground at the international military-technical forum "Army-2016"
Evgeny Biyatov / RIA Novosti

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, in 2017, Pantsirs shot down 16 drones and 53 shells jet systems volley fire(MLRS) militants.

“The S-400, S-300B and Pantsir complexes, together with fighter aircraft, ensured the complete superiority of our aerospace forces in Syrian airspace. There was not a single violation of the security zones of the Russian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim,” says the report of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu dated December 22, 2017.

Analyzing attacks on Russian bases, Roblin doubts the ability of US troops to effectively repel jihadist drone attacks on US targets.

Over more than three years of presence in Syria, the United States military has shot down several drones. The UAVs were destroyed by aviation, which led to unreasonably high costs for fuel and missile weapons. From an economic point of view, this method of combating drones is too wasteful, the analyst points out.

“American missiles are several times more expensive Russian analogues. This is, in principle, a redundant weapon for defeating homemade terrorist drones. At the moment, Pantsir is the most the best remedy combating UAVs according to the criterion “efficiency - cost,” noted Knutov.

On one combat platform

Among American funds military air defense In terms of functionality, the Centurion artillery system of Raytheon Corporation is closest to the Pantsir. It includes 20mm six-barreled gun M61A1 Vulcan and three-dimensional radar. All weapons are placed on a four-axle HEMTT A3 army truck.

Centurion is capable of destroying large-caliber mines, multiple launch rocket systems, UAVs, armored vehicles and shelters. However, the range of destruction of M61A1 targets is limited to 2 km.

The combat radius of the Pantsir-S in conventional equipment exceeds 12 km, and the modernized versions can fire at a range of up to 20-40 km. The Russian air defense missile system is designed to intercept all types of low-flying targets and destroy ground equipment, including tanks (if a projectile hits the side).

Crew of the universal short-range anti-aircraft missile and gun system "Pantsir-S1" during a comprehensive training on fire control and units of the 5th combined arms army of the Far Eastern Military District at the Sergeevsky training ground in the Primorsky Territory
Vitaly Ankov / RIA Novosti

The main feature of the Pantsir-S is that it is equipped with both anti-aircraft guns (30-mm 2A38M assault rifles) and missile weapons (57E6E installations). Along with anti-aircraft missile system"Tor-M2" "Pantsir" is the only air defense weapon capable of firing at targets in motion.

“Only our country was able to realize the excellent idea of placing artillery and missile weapons on one combat platform. This was an extremely successful move. The Americans, as far as I know, are forced to artificially form such an anti-aircraft battery, placing artillery and missile guns nearby,” Knutov emphasized.

The result of painstaking work

Roblin drew attention to the great popularity of Pantsir in the foreign market. Russian MANPADS were purchased by Algeria, Iraq, Syria, the UAE, Oman, Jordan and Brazil. The price of one complex is $13-15 million. Total cost export contracts exceed $1.5 billion.

The Instrument Design Bureau (Tula), together with other defense enterprises, is modernizing the Pantsir line. Since the end of 2016, the Ministry of Defense has been purchasing Pantsir-S2. Since February 2017, these complexes have been responsible for the air defense of the naval base in Vladivostok.

The Pantsir-SA anti-aircraft missile and gun system based on the DT-30 all-terrain vehicle at the final rehearsal of the military parade in Moscow dedicated to the 72nd anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War Patriotic War 1941-1945.
Alexey Nikolsky / RIA Novosti

In 2017, the VKS received over 200 Pantsir-S combat kits, including modernized versions. In 2019, the development of Pantsir-SM will be completed.

The updated air defense missile systems feature more advanced radar equipment, an expanded range of targets and an increased range of destruction. Thus, Pantsir-S2 intercepts not only winged aircraft, but also ballistic missiles.

Roblin believes that an important advantage of the Pantsir is the ability to function at extremely high and low temperatures. For example, in Syria Russian MANPADS They are on combat duty at temperatures of +50°C, and in the Arctic - at -50°C.

“The incredible characteristics of the Pantsir were the result of very long and painstaking work by Russian designers. First prototype was assembled in 1994, but the complex was adopted for service only in 2012. However, we see that the invested money and labor brought the result that the military was seeking,” Knutov noted.

On July 17, 2016, an interesting incident occurred. Unknown but heroic soldier Russian army, who was flying a reconnaissance drone in Syria, was a little gape and mixed up a couple of states. Although he was instructed to scout terrorists in Syria, he turned to Israeli territory and began to “scout” kibbutzim (agricultural communes in Israel), which, to be honest, didn’t have a damn thing - neither terrorists nor Israeli military.

The trivial situation forced the Israelis to talk with the Russian military on hotline. But the Russian headquarters were not yet aware of the “feat of the intelligence officer” described above and said that the UAVs were not theirs. As a result, the Israelis tried to shoot him down - anti-aircraft missile system"Patriot". However, this was not possible. The first missile was unable to hold the target with its homing head, but the second simply exploded not close enough - and the UAV calmly continued its flight. And even a couple of F-16s raised to intercept could not cope with this matter.

The funniest thing in this story is that the unknown hero-operator never noticed the serious efforts (three attempts!) of the Israeli side to shoot down his drone. Only after some time did he return the device to Syrian territory, where he continued reconnaissance. There was a storm of indignation in the Israeli press.

This whole comical situation exposed big problem modern air defense and aviation: drones are cheap, but difficult to shoot down. They are small in size, made mainly of plastic, which is why they are almost invisible on radar. Patriot missiles weigh a third of a ton and have a complex homing head, which is why each launch costs three million dollars. The slob operator cost Israel six million dollars, as well as wasted F-16 flight time. To understand: the T-90 tank costs three million dollars on the world arms market. That is, the modest hero-operator “shod” the IDF for a couple good tanks»!

But even if the Patriot had shot down our UAV with the first missile, it would have hit Israel harder than Russia. After all, a Russian drone is much cheaper than one American-made air defense missile. As American General David Perkins noted this spring, “If I were an enemy [of the United States], I would think: “Hey, I should buy quadcopters on eBay for three hundred bucks with all my money and let the Patriots shoot them down!”

And a year later, in August 2017, information appeared that How the Pantsir copes with drones. It turned out that he shot down three Israeli Herons, one American RQ-21 and one Turkish UAV. Why did the Tula product succeed in what much more expensive aircraft and air defense systems could not cope with?

The reasons are quite banal. A large multi-channel dual-band radar at the Pantsir’s operating range (up to 20 kilometers) turned out to be a better guidance tool than the Patriot’s homing head, which, whatever one may say, is smaller in size and has different good conditions for work. In addition, the Pantsir has a redundant optical target detection and tracking system. As a result, he dealt with drones with missiles that cost many times less three million dollars per launch. One launcher of an American anti-aircraft missile system is two dozen times more expensive than one Pantsir. That is, it also cannot cover the same number of objects.

Until recently, the West seemed to be a partner, so the state did not invest in the development of air defense systems. Only exports allowed the Tula KBP to find funds to create one of the best anti-aircraft missile systems in the world. Now their presence allows Russia to shoot down targets that in practice turned out to be too tough for either the Patriots or the F-16.

Based on the experience of World War II, it became clear: our infantry and navy were sorely lacking the means of self-defense against enemy aircraft. The highest price was paid for this, and the Soviet generals did not want to repeat such a mistake. Therefore, the means soon appeared: the Shilka with a radar and a quadruple 23-mm cannon satisfied this task for quite a long time. Problems began with the advent of mass-produced and cheap air-to-surface missiles, and then guided bombs.

With a bunch of such bombs, an aircraft can attack a target from beyond the reach of tactical anti-aircraft missile systems - and this whole bunch must be shot down with something

For example, American JDAM guided bombs can be dropped at a distance of up to 28 kilometers from the target - and they will still fall no further than a few meters from it, ensuring a reliable defeat. Neither the Shilka (range of damage is 2.5 kilometers, height is 1.5 kilometers), nor the more modern Tunguska (3.5 kilometers and 8.0 kilometers, respectively) can do anything with this. An Apache helicopter or an American attack aircraft, in theory, could rise up from the folds of the terrain, throw a guided missile at the same Tunguska and immediately disappear, while mobile air defense systems would have to survive under a missile attack.

“He was absolutely not needed by his homeland”

It all started in 1990 with the Roman anti-aircraft missile system, which was ordered on the personal initiative of General V.F. Margelov for the needs of... Airborne Forces. Yes, this is very strange. Although the “Roman” was not very suitable for landing, the Airborne Forces understood that their people behind enemy lines with their MANPADS would not fight much: enemy helicopters and planes would be able to shoot them from a height and from a distance without losses. Therefore, Margelov turned to A.G. with a request. Shipunov, already then a very well-known head of the Tula Instrument Design Bureau (KBP).

It was possible to bring for testing a complex with 12 missiles with a range of up to 12 kilometers, a strike height of up to 8 kilometers and a pair of 30-mm 2A72 cannons (known from the BMP). All this was done by landing. It was the beginning of the 90s, the military had neither money nor understanding that Russia would ever have to fight with developed countries western type. Of course, they didn’t have much interest in the new car. They tried to offer air defense for the future Pantsir. Ultimately, they refused there too, saying that “the complex cannot fire while moving,” and its range did not exceed 12 kilometers. True, this was much better than several kilometers of Tunguska.

As noted later Valery Slugin, chief designer of KBP for air defense systems, real reasons the refusals were more prosaic: “At first, the Motherland had absolutely no need for him, it had no time for that then - crisis, devastation.”

Fortunately, in the mid-90s, the Tula KBP was not only “freed” from funding, but also given the right to look for customers abroad. A. Shipunov in the second half of that decade came into contact with the military from the UAE, who presented him with demands even more ambitious than those realized in “Roman”. They needed a single machine, which, unlike the Buk, would have radars and missiles combined into one fist. In addition, they agreed on the need for guns that were very suitable for firing at low-flying cruise missiles.

However, 12 kilometers, in their opinion, was not enough - they wanted 20. From this, the area protected by the complex should have almost tripled. In other words, a completely new machine had to be created. Therefore, Shipunov, returning to Russia, demanded a radically new missile with a completely different range. By the way, in this way he won over his competitors - the Emirates were also offered the Russian "Thor" with the range of the first "Pantsir". Its manufacturers did not dare to create a new product with a longer range. It was necessary to change the caliber of the rocket's sustainer stage from 76 to 90 millimeters - otherwise the required range could not be achieved.

Prophet in a foreign land

Only in 2000, a contract was signed with the UAE for $734 million. The funny thing is that before him, the Tula people couldn’t even make what they were going to sell to the Arabs - they simply didn’t have the money for development. “When we signed a contract with the Emirates, it was honestly said that we do not yet have the complex. And they gave us four years,” says a participant in the events, the chief designer of the KBP for air defense systems.

As the reader can see, we have before us, perhaps, the most adventurous story about the creation of a new weapon in the world. The contract was concluded for the purchase of a complex that does not exist in nature, based only on Shipunov’s promises in the style of “everything will happen now.” Probably, only in the hopeless chaos of the 90s, in the absence of internal orders, could Tula gunsmiths take such a desperate step.

The problem was that the future “Pantsir” required a radar with a highly detailed “picture”. IN Soviet era similar complexes used the centimeter range. Millimeter-wave radio waves are shorter, so they can be reflected from smaller parts. In addition, to protect against interference, they decided to make the radar multi-channel with a phased array antenna.

But this is a fundamentally new radar, and who will make it? Other enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex were not too interested in this work - the domestic customer (the military) did not put pressure on them from above. And no particular funding was allocated. In 2000–2004, it was not possible to make a centimeter-millimeter radar. The Tula residents became so desperate that they took on the task of creating it themselves. The calculations were entrusted to people from Baumanka, and the hardware was made themselves. And here is an absolutely fantastic result: the task was completed, a dual-band, especially accurate radar was made. To fully understand how difficult this task is, let’s add: many very advanced foreign air defense systems with a millimeter range have had problems for many years.

Without a king in my head

The basic Pantsir missile looks like a combination of seemingly incompatible qualities. She has a very small mass - 75 kilograms and at the same time quite powerful combat unit(with rod striking elements) - 20 kilograms. In addition, it is also high-speed - up to 1.3 kilometers per second, but at the same time it costs much less than short-range missiles of the same S-400 or Patriots. The reason for such a successful set of properties is the absence of unnecessary

Many modern air defense missiles are made with a homing head. The Pantsir does not have them - the launcher’s computer sends commands when aiming at a target. The booster section with a diameter of 170 millimeters gives the sustainer section a speed of up to 1.3 kilometers per second and after one and a half seconds, having used up all the fuel, it separates. All that remains is the “thin” marching step with a diameter of only 90 millimeters. It has no engines, flies by inertia and can only change course to a limited extent. But due to its small diameter it loses speed very slowly. Even at 20 kilometers it is still 0.7 kilometers per second.

Due to the absence of a homing head and sustainer stage engines, the missile is not only cheap, but also has a large warhead. Therefore, having been blown up by a radio fuse five meters from a cruise missile or armored aircraft, it reliably violates its integrity with rods.

The eyes and brain of the rocket are on the base vehicle of the Pantsir. In addition to the radar, they include an optical-location system, simply - effective cameras with image recognition and the ability to lock on a target. Radar does not distinguish objects close to the ground well - and an Apache emerging from behind a hill or a cruise missile can be only five meters from the surface. The optical system clearly sees them - just like ground targets - and allows you to effectively conduct cannon fire at such a complex target.

The fruits of adventure

For a long time the country's leadership did not understand that all our attempts to improve relations with the West in the position of junior partners were doomed to failure. The turning point came only in 2006–2007, when accurate intelligence data appeared that the United States was pumping Georgia up with weapons and trainers in hopes of capturing it South Ossetia. Only after this (the Munich speech and so on) did the leadership really become seriously concerned about defense. Therefore, in 2006, Russia spent on it like Italy (seventh place in the world), and by 2011, Moscow’s defense spending doubled and reached second place in the world. Gradually, an understanding arose: the threat of war with the United States requires good protection from cruise missiles.

If our economy were comparable to the American one, we could buy more S-300 and S-400. The problem is that the lightest missile of these complexes - 9M96E1 - weighs 330 kilograms and, accordingly, costs much more than the “shell” one. And its warhead weighs 24 kilograms - only 20 percent more powerful. Alas, the presence of fuel and engines in the sustainer stage “ate” kilograms from the warhead, and the price of such a product is radically higher (including due to the need for a homing head).

In general, “Shell” is for short distances turned out to be radically cheaper than the Esoks, and also had guns that made it possible to shoot down cruise missiles at short range - when they emerge from the nearest hills and when they are launched anti-aircraft missile is clearly already late. Therefore, on November 16, 2012, by order of the government, the Pantsir was nevertheless accepted into service. By the way, the corresponding order from the Ministry of Defense was issued only in 2013. Many years have passed since the start of deliveries to foreign customers - and finally the country has benefited from the fruits of KBP’s risky initiative.

Real finest hour the car arrived a little later. After Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict and before the introduction of the S-400 Pantsirs into the country, they were the main means of defense of Khmeimim and Russian military facilities in general. They were used specifically as target air defense, and in this capacity they performed extremely well.

Doubling the "Shell"

The developers of the system decided that the developed niche of short-range object-based air defense was too small for them. They wanted more - to enter medium-range systems. This will be achieved by a new, more efficient radar, with the help of which the target detection range will rise to 75 kilometers, and new missiles - in the same dimensions, but with a flight range of up to 40 kilometers. Doubling the range will allow the complex to quadruple the covered area.

By the way, the naval “Pantsiri-M”, due to its small dimensions and long range, will be installed on the Buyan-class small missile launchers - for the first time giving decent air defense to so many small ships.

Of course, this will require more rockets. Therefore, it is planned to install new short-range missiles on the Pantsir-SM, first presented to the public in August 2017 at the Army-2017 military-technical forum. If standard missiles are placed one at a time in one transport and launch container (the launcher has 12 of them), then four new missiles are placed in one container. That is, the installation will be able to repel the attack of many air attack weapons at once - and carry dozens of missiles instead of today’s 12.

The most important - new system will finally allow you to keep the distance of dropping guided bombs under fire. If earlier an aircraft could safely drop JDAM guided bombs from a distance of more than 20 kilometers without risking a missile, now it will have to do this in the Pantsir fire zone. This means that bombing the area covered by this anti-aircraft missile system will become an extremely difficult and risky task. Missile launches from aircraft are still possible - but missiles of the required range will be much larger and more expensive than guided bombs of the same power.

War as a criterion of truth

Very often the military peacetime They make demands on weapons that turn out to be unnecessary in war. At the same time, they do not notice the really necessary innovations. This is exactly what happened before World War II, when the USSR did not want to adopt automatic weapons. They say that the cartridge for it is weaker, the bullet flies close, the accuracy and range are not the same - a weapon for bank robbers, not for the military. Automatic fire in the army was quite seriously considered less important than range. The results are known: Finnish war quickly brought Soviet commanders closer to real life. It turned out that a soldier shoots very rarely at a kilometer, but very often at a hundred meters and closer. Unfortunately, similar stories are repeated today.

When Pantsir was put into service in 2012, a number of military personnel were against it. V.V. Belotserkovsky and I.A. Razin devoted an entire report to the shortcomings of the complex. The missile is too simple (without homing), the wheeled chassis is too unstable, preventing the guns from firing while moving, it cannot shoot down ballistic missiles, and so on and so forth. The question inevitably arises: could the Tula air defense system even have appeared if the money for its development had been provided by the Russian, and not the Arab, military? Have UAE customers turned out to be more far-sighted than their domestic counterparts?

The Syrian campaign has put everything in its place. It was “discovered” that complexes covering rear targets do not have to fire from the march at all - only from a standstill, with sliding supports that increase stability. That a “brainless” missile without homing successfully shoots down drones cheaply, but the “big-headed” Patriot missile cannot do this - but its unsuccessful launches cost millions of dollars apiece.

“It turned out” that Pantsirs are not used alone in an open field, but in conjunction with the S-400, which can shoot down long-range missiles enemy. And also the fact that such missiles are not used against our troops in real wars at all - because only the developed countries, who for some reason are somewhat afraid to fight with us. In general, it turned out that Pantsir, for all its apparent simplicity and cheapness, coped with a number of parameters much better more expensive and sophisticated complexes. The fact that its range can be dramatically increased by creating systems with fundamentally different capabilities shows that the potential of a “simple” missile is still far from exhausted.

Since February of this year, the security of the main base of the Pacific Fleet, Vladivostok, has been ensured by the crews of the new Pantsir-S2 air defense missile system. We are talking about the continuation of a well-proven series of anti-aircraft missile and gun systems capable of providing effective protection against the widest possible range of air attack weapons - from an unmanned aerial vehicle to a cruise aircraft.

An entire division of new Pantsirs took up combat duty to cover the airspace above the main base of the Pacific Fleet. Prior to this, according to the press service of the fleet, its crews completed a training course to work on new technology and even conducted training shooting at various types of targets at the Ashuluk training ground in Astrakhan region.

With all the power of fire

The fact that the modernized Pantsir-S2 anti-aircraft missile and gun complex will be supplied to the troops in the very near future was announced by the head of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Missile Defense, Lieutenant General Viktor Gumenny last fall. He emphasized that the complex has already passed the established type tests, and its entry into service will be carried out in parallel with the introduction of the S-400 systems into combat service. ZRPK divisions will be part of the S-400 regiments as a means of defense against airborne weapons in the near zone, General Gumenny noted, clarifying that we are also talking about protection against cruise and anti-radar missiles.

A kind of testing of the new complex took place in September last year at the Ashuluk training ground during the large-scale exercises “Combat Commonwealth - 2015”. The complex is equipped with rapid-firing 30-mm 2A38M automatic cannons and guided missiles with a kill zone of up to 18–20 kilometers in range and up to 15 kilometers in altitude. The multi-channel target acquisition and tracking system is fully combined with missile and artillery weapons, creating a continuous interception zone.

In one of the training battles during the mentioned exercises, the Pantsir, which, according to legend, was covering a column of its equipment, was immediately hit by an attack drone. In general, targets flying at ultra-low altitudes are the strength of this complex. He deals with them without much difficulty. Moreover, the speed at which they can move air objects, exceeds a thousand meters per second, and this air defense missile system is capable of hitting up to four targets simultaneously.

Invisible dome

The updated complex differs from the previous modification of the Pantsir by the presence of a radar with improved characteristics and an expanded missile range. A dual-band, three-coordinate target and missile tracking radar detects and tracks airborne objects across the entire horizon, detecting them at a range of 36 kilometers. Taking into account the reaction time - up to six seconds, as well as the target's flight speed - up to a kilometer per second, the object is guaranteed to be destroyed immediately after it enters the destruction zone of the weapon systems.

So, for a 30-mm twin anti-aircraft gun, such a zone occurs already at a distance of four kilometers. It is worth saying that those who have at least once observed the real use of the 2A38M cannon system have no doubt: it is impossible to overcome this continuous wall of fire (and the rate of fire reaches five thousand rounds per minute).

"Shell" - business card Tula KBP and its subsidiary Shcheglovsky Val. Tula gunsmiths are convinced: there are no analogues to this air defense missile system in the world today and are unlikely to be seen in the near future. This complex provides unique combination the entire range of air defense tasks - from detection and tracking of targets to direct fire impact on them. Let's add here the possibility of installing the elements of the complex on a universal chassis of off-road vehicles or tracked vehicles (for example, on a base -3 or MTLB).

There are no off-roads for these cars. They can stand anywhere, go out and perform the task either individually or in a group of anti-aircraft weapons, exchanging information through closed communication channels. According to air defense servicemen, the main operators of this complex, neither existing nor future air attack means can overcome the invisible protective dome it creates.

This fact speaks about the reliability of the Pantsir. During testing of locators in production, these devices are placed on a special stand, where they are long time subjected to powerful vibration. In fact, the conditions of use and transportation are simulated. In addition, climatic tests are mandatory: the equipment is checked in special chambers, where a temperature regime is created from minus 50 to plus 60 degrees. Each locator is kept in such a chamber for up to several days, during which the characteristics of the equipment are studied.

If the collected data is positive, the product receives the right to be installed on the complex. According to the general director of Shcheglovsky Val, Vladimir Popov, it is precisely these tough methods that ensure maximum reliability specified in the requirements technical documentation. “Initially, strict requirements were set for the radar being developed, so today, before and after assembly, each locator undergoes a very large volume of mechanical and climatic tests in order to meet all parameters,” emphasizes the head of the company.

Guarding the Syrian sky

Today, Pantsir-S2 air defense missile systems have been entrusted with combat duty at the Khmeimim airbase, covering, together with the S-400, the Russian Aerospace Forces group operating in Syria. By the way, the highlight of the complex is the possibility of its use against air targets (airplanes, helicopters, remotely piloted aircraft and high-precision weapons) and against moving ground objects.

The 2A38M automatic cannon uses armor-piercing incendiary cartridges with an initial flight speed of 960 meters per second. Such characteristics of the weapon make it possible to hit, for example, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. At the same time, "Pantsir" during operation guarantees protection of its equipment from any interference, provides the highest accuracy of target designation, and in addition, operates in automatic mode until the decision is made to launch a fire strike.

“The Pantsir-type air defense system, as previously stated, should remain and be interpreted as a short-range air defense system for direct cover, and, for example, the Tor-M2 air defense system should be used as a widely used multi-channel short-range air defense system,” believes retired lieutenant general, doctor of technical sciences Alexander Luzan. At the same time, according to General Luzan, the Tor-M2 air defense system and the Pantsir-S1 and Pantsir-S2 air defense systems are not competing with each other, but mutually complementary promising air defense systems, which should each be used in their own niche and in their own way purpose.

The reliability and demand for Russian anti-aircraft missile and gun systems is confirmed by a significant number of orders for the supply of this military equipment abroad. Thus, the previous generation complexes, Pantsir-S1, have already been purchased by a number of countries, including the United United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Iran, Oman, Algeria. According to Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the defense-industrial sector, applications for Russian anti-aircraft guns missile and gun systems were already made before 2019, and therefore we're talking about on increasing the capacity of Russian manufacturing enterprises.

The well-known Liveleak portal shows “indisputable evidence” of the “Pantsir” blown up by the Tomahawk (see photo below).

The Ukrainian news site Obozrevatel published a large “analytical” review in connection with the footage found. Let's quote a few paragraphs:

“The Shaibat air base (we’ll forgive the Ukrainian for the inability to write the name correctly), which was ironed by Tomahawks, is the second largest at the disposal of the Syrian Air Force. This means that it was necessarily covered by an air defense system and it necessarily included several Pantsirs, with Syrian crews,” writes the Ukrainian media outlet Obozrevatel.

“The shell is precisely a means for intercepting cruise missiles at close range, precisely in the range that Russian experts talked about,” the material clarifies.

TTX "Pantsir-S1"

Ukrainians remind that the Pantsir-S1 air defense system is quite new Russian development to provide the last line of defense against air attack. The main purpose of the complex is to combat enemy missiles, including cruise missiles, which include Tomahawk. For this purpose, the complex is equipped with its own radar with an active phased array, missiles and cannons, which gives it the ability to find and hit targets at altitudes of 15 meters and above, at a distance of up to 20 km.

Moreover, at the maximum range the complex fires with missiles, and at the minimum with rapid-fire 30 mm cannons. Since the Pantsir is designed to combat missiles, that is, high-speed targets, it has an automatic operation mode, that is, the onboard systems themselves detect the target, aim weapons and open fire from a suitable weapon. At the same time, an AFAR radar allows you to capture several targets and simultaneously fire from 2 to 4, depending on the angular distance between them.

“Our readers sent us a photo that representatives of the Russian media would never have taken (it’s not true, we did, we are publishing it after the Ukrainians - RV’s note) - a charred and overturned Pantsir. As far as we know, he has never fought in battle with an enemy capable of destroying him, and now Shayrat showed the price of the Shell, like everything else,” the author of the article on the mentioned portal makes a categorical conclusion.

“Shell” and “chemical weapons” that did not exist

Further, the “expert” accuses the Russian media: “There is silence about the completely destroyed air defense system, consisting of “unparalleled” S-300 and Pantsir. Silence on the air. Just like about the field of chemical weapons containers - silence.” About containers with chemical weapons- this is another high-profile fake by armchair experts, exposed by experts, including Ukrainian ones.