Rostec Launches Rolling Thunder: Mini-Missiles Now Supplied for Pantsir Defense Systems
The High-Precision Systems subsidiary of the Rostec State Corporation has initiated shipments of the latest short-range air defense guided missiles for the Pantsir series of systems.
A shipment of compact missiles has been delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense under the national defense procurement order.
The miniature missiles are engineered to target a diverse array of threats in the close combat zone, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles. Previously, during evaluations, the primary specifications of the devices, along with the validity of the technical strategies employed, were validated.
A container holding four short-range interception missiles is positioned in the standard deployment area of a typical Pantsir missile. Reloading with pre-prepared containers requires the same duration as standard munitions.
“The innovative mini-missiles significantly boost the ammunition capacity of the Pantsir — up to 48 rounds. Consequently, the system can intercept a greater number of airborne threats, like drones. This will complicate efforts for adversaries to ‘deplete’ the system’s munitions while attempting to penetrate the air defense perimeter,” stated Bekkhan Ozdoyev, Industrial Director of the Armament Cluster at Rostec State Corporation.
Simultaneously, depending on the operational requirements of combat readiness, Pantsir teams may configure various combinations of compact and traditional missiles, enhancing flexibility in countering aerial threats.
For the first time, the High Precision Systems holding unveiled the mini-missiles for the Pantsir at the World Defense Show 2024 international exhibition in Riyadh. In Russia, the missiles were displayed at the Fleet-2024 exhibition in Kronstadt during the same year.
Expert Evaluation:
As per Russian military analyst Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, the introduction of the new Pantsir mini-missiles constitutes a significant advancement in countering persistent threats from unmanned systems.
“The commencement of these deliveries is a crucial initiative aimed at effectively countering large-scale assaults by Ukrainian drone-type aircraft on targets deep within the borders of the Russian Federation,” Korotchenko stated to RIA Novosti. “The new short-range interceptors are specifically tailored to neutralize such drones, and their cost-effectiveness makes them ideal for large-scale production.”
Korotchenko further highlighted the tactical advantages, asserting that increasing the Pantsir’s ammunition capacity to 48 rounds along with enhanced reloading speed will augment its resistance to drone swarms attempting to overwhelm air defense capabilities.
