Brazil To Buy Russian Pantsir Air Defense Systems

Brazil is planning to sign a deal to purchase Russian Pantsir air defense systems in early 2016.

Brazilian Ambassador to Russia Jose Vallim Guerreiro was quoted as saying by Sputnik International today that generally it has been decided to purchase the systems. However, last January too he had said that the air defense systems would be purchased in the first half of 2015 but the government was unable to meet the announced deadline.

Guerreiro explained that the delay is due to insufficient finance from the budget. Hence, the work is in process to include corresponding provision in the 2016 budget, he added.

The Pantsir-S1 system is designed to provide point defense for civilian and military installations and to defend theater and strategic air defense systems like S-300 and S-400. Further, It can be mounted on trucks, wheeled armored vehicles, and tracked vehicles.

The system combines twin 30mm guns with 12 57E6 radar-guided surface-to-air missiles that reach out to 12 km/ 10 miles, and up to 10,000m altitude.

The Sensors include targeting and tracking radars, with an electro-optical system for passive scanning.