Russian Military to Receive 2nd Batch of Pantsir-S Systems

Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces will receive the second batch of Pantsir-S air defense systems by November this year, the Defense Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti. 

Pantsir-S is a short-to-medium range combined surface-to-air missile and antiaircraft artillery system designed to protect point and area targets. The Russian military took delivery of the first batch (more than 10 units) in 2011. 

“The second delivery is expected in September-October this year,” a Defense Ministry spokesman told reporters on Tuesday. 

“The main purpose of this system is to protect S-400 Triumf air defense systems at their deployment sites from enemy air and missile strikes,” the official said. 

Commenting on recent media reports that the military refused to accept the Pantsir-S for service with the Ground Forces, the spokesman said that the work on variants for Ground Forces and the Navy is still under way. 

“As soon as this work is done, the system's prototype will undergo field tests," he said, adding that the Pantsir-S version for aerospace defense units fully meets performance requirements for this type of weaponry. 

The Defense Ministry has so far ordered 100 Pantsir-S units for Aerospace Defense Forces, which are expected to be delivered in the next few years.

The export version of the system, Pantsir-S1, has been sold to the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Algeria.

Russia will showcase Pantsir-S1 at the Africa Aerospace and Defense arms show in South Africa on September 19-23. (RIA Novosti)