Russia Gets New Short-Range Pantsir-S Systems

Russia takes delivery of six Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems to be used by a new missile regiment, a military official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

The Pantsir-S battalion is set to form part of a third S-400 air defense missile regiment deployed near the Russian capital.

The new regiment is expected to be put on combat duty in December, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Dmitry Zenin said.

Pantsir-S is primarily designed to defend higher ranking air defense systems, such as the S-300and S-400 regiments.

Two S-400 regiments currently deployed around Moscow include a Pantsir-S battalion each, according to the Defense Ministry.

Pantsir-S is a gun-missile system combining a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30-mm cannon and up to 12 57E6 radio-command guided short-range missiles, and is designed to engage a variety of low altitude targets.

The Defense Ministry has reportedly ordered some 100 Pantsir-S systems for the Aerospace Defense Forces.