Russia Tests Pantsir ADS Against Ultra-low Flying Targets

Russian Army’s Pantsir-S air defense systems (ADS) were tested to intercept targets flying at extremely low altitudes of 50m, during Kavkaz-2020 military drills.

The hostile targets were imitated by An-2 turboprop planes flying at altitudes lower than 50m and speeds below 200 km/h. Some of the aircraft flew in tight order at minimum intervals and distances, making it difficult for them to be detected. The crews of the radar stations and Pantsir-S ADS carried out accurate simulated firing of 20 An-2 planes during the exercises, Russian Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday.

After interception of targets, the crews of the Pantsir-S air defense missile system worked out a march to change positions and mask new positional areas. During the march, the tasks of combat guarding the convoy of equipment and repelling the attack of the reconnaissance and sabotage groups of the conditional enemy were worked out, the ministry said.

Earlier, the Pantsir, along with S-400 long-range and Buk-M2 medium range surface-to-air missile systems repelled massive air strikes imitated by Su-34, Su-24M, Su-30SM, MiG-29SMT and other aircraft flying at the altitudes from 50m-20km.

Pantsir-S systems were also tested against high-speed target missiles during the Kavkaz drills. The Pantsir’s near-peer market competitors, such as South Korean K30 Biho-I or Turkish Korkut have not yet publicly revealed their capacities to hit aerial vehicles flying at extremely low altitudes.

The Russian MoD tested Pantsir against targets simulating armoured personnel carriers at a distance of up to 3km earlier this year.

Manufacturer Tula-based KBP company claims that the anti-aircraft system has a modular design, jamming-​resistant multiband radar-optical control system and the ability to fire at targets on the move.