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 painted in a winter camouflage scheme. Now in stock!

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

Release Date: October 2023

Historical Account: "Winter Solstice" - Originally Soviet strategic missile systems had been placed in fixed, hardened sites. Newer systems such as the S-300PS/PM (SA-10/20) were much more mobile, which reduced vulnerabilities to attack. However, once the S-300 unit was found by enemy forces it was still very vulnerable. One of the roles for the Pantsir-S is to provide air defence to the S-300 missile systems.

It was decided that a wheeled chassis would be better than a tracked chassis for the Pantsir-S, as wheeled vehicles are faster, less prone to breakdowns, easier to maintain, and cheaper to produce.

Development as the Pantsir-S started in 1990 as a planned successor to the Tunguska M1. A prototype was completed in 1994 and displayed at the MAKS-1995. The program soon ran into difficulties which resulted in a halt in funding, but KBP continued development of the program using its own funds. Both the turret and radar systems were redesigned, and all older Tunguska equipment was removed.

The system has two new radars with increased range, capable of tracking more air targets, and also land targets. It has an integrated identification friend or foe (IFF) system. Within the cabin two LCD multi-function displays have replaced the multiple CRT display. A new central computer system greatly decreased the reaction time. A single person can operate the system if necessary. The use of newer technologies allow the overall volume of the weapon station to be reduced by a third, and the overall weight by half. The system has enhanced missiles (from type 57E6 to type 57E6-E; probably interchangeable) and guns (from type 2A72 to type 2A38M).

Live firing tests took place in June 2006 at the Kapustin Yar firing range, Astrakhan region, Russia. Final test series prior to delivery in May 2007 at Kapustin Yar included forced travel of 250 km (160 mi) to an unprepared launch position, simulating a typical air-defence mission. The Pantsir-S1 air-defence missile-gun system was adopted for service with the Russian Ground Forces in November 2012. The modernized Pantsir-S2 entered service in 2015.