The Pantsir (Russian: "Carapace") missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems. Starting with the Pantsir-S1 (NATO reporting name SA-22 Greyhound) as the first version, it is produced by KBP Instrument Design Bureau of Tula, Russia.

The Pantsir-S1 was designed to provide point air defense of military, industrial and administrative installations against aircraft, helicopters, precision munitions, cruise missiles and UAVs; and to provide additional protection to air defense units against enemy air attacks employing precision munitions, especially at low to extremely low altitudes.

The first finished version was completed in 1995 with the 1L36 radar, later another was designed. It is a short to medium range ground-based air defense system, wheeled, tracked or stationary with two to three operators. Its air defense consists of automatic anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles with radar or optical target-tracking and radio-command guidance.

Its purpose is the protection of civil and military point and area targets, for motorized or mechanized troops up to regimental size or as defensive asset of higher ranking air defense systems like S-300/S-400. The system has capability for anti-munitions missions. It can hit targets on the waterline/above-water. It can operate in a fully automatic mode. It has the ability to work in a completely passive mode. The probability of hitting a target for one rocket is not less than 0.7 with a reaction time of 4-6 seconds. It can fire missiles and gun armament while in motion. For its main radar station, early detection in height may be between 0-60 degrees or 26-82 degrees depending on the mode. The system has claimed significant advantages over other systems, such as Crotale NG (France), Roland-3 (France and Germany), Rapier 2000 (UK), SeaRAM (Germany and USA). This is not confirmed by comparative testing, but clearly follows from declared limit of possibilities of systems (2010) In 2013, there was a variant with two radar stations for early detection "standing back to back". The system has a modular structure which enables a fast and easy replacement of any part.

After receiving target coordinates (from any source) it may defeat the target (using all the radar except the early detection radar) within a range from -5 to +85 (82) degrees (vertical). The interval between missile launches is 1-1.5 seconds (a world record for analogue systems). S-400 Triumf and Pantsir missile system can be integrated into a two-layer defense system.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Russian Pantsir-S1 Self-Propelled Air Defense System built on a KAMAZ-6560 8x8 truck TLAR and participated in the Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: February 2023

Historical Account: "Bearing Arms" - The Pantsir-S1 carries up to twelve 57E6 (export designation) 57E6-E (export enhanced designation) two-stage solid fuel radio/optical command-guided surface-to-air missiles in sealed ready-to-launch container tubes. Missiles are arranged into two six-tube groups on the turret. The missile has a bi-calibre body, consisting of two stages in a tandem configuration. The first stage is a booster, providing rapid acceleration within the first 2 seconds of flight, after which it is separated from the sustainer-stage.

The sustainer is highly agile and contains the high explosive multiple continuous-rod/fragmentation warhead, as well as the contact and proximity fuses, guidance flare and radio transponder. The missile is not fitted with a seeker to keep target engagement costs low. Target and missile tracking is instead provided via the system's multi-band sensor system. Guidance data is submitted via radio link for up to four missiles in flight.

The system is capable of tracking and guiding four missiles fired at four distinct targets. Operationally, however, two missile salvos are typically fired at each target. The 57E6 missile is believed to have a kill probability of 70-90%. They have a 15-year storage lifetime in its sealed launch container. Pantsir-S1 combat vehicles can fire missiles on the move.

Additional missiles, one specifically designed to engage unmanned aerial vehicles, and another one hypersonic, developing speeds of more than Mach 5, have been developed for the Pantsir system.