Libyan Army Destroys 4 more of Haftar’s Pantsir S1 Systems

The Libyan Army blew up four Pantsir S1 air defense systems operated by the militia lead by renegade commander Khalifa Belqasim Haftar.

"Our forces managed to destroy four Pantsir-type air defense systems on Wednesday, including three in Tarhuna," Mohamed Qanunu, a spokesman for the government-led Operation Volcano of Rage, said in a statement.

Three other Russian-made anti-aircraft systems were destroyed by the Libyan Army in the recent days.

Al-Watiya Airbase occupied by putschist Haftar forces for six years, was recaptured by the Army on Monday. Libya is now trying to cut off Haftar’s supplies by retaking al-Asaba and Tarhuna city.

Pantsir anti-aircraft systems used in Libya use German-built MAN SX45 Heavy Mobility Truck as the system’s ground mobility and transporter erector launcher (TELAR) platform. “Only the United Arab Emirates uses this configuration for its Pantsir S-1 systems, which was supplied to them after 2011. All other export variants are mounted on: BAZ-6909 8x8, Ural-53234 8x8, KamAZ-6560 8x8, or Asrolog MKZT79230 chassis,” a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report notes.

Oded Berkowitz, an intelligence analyst, claims that Haftar’s forces were armed with Pantsir S1s by the UAE over the last two years.

Besides Pantsir, MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems were also provided to Haftar militia by the UAE which received 343 of them between 1996 and 2000.