Article Posted on : - Mar 25, 2010

The Pantsir air defence system. A KBP Photo

MOSCOW (BNS): The Russian Air Force has received the first batch of ten Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems, the Defence Ministry has said.

The missile systems, designed to protect civilian and military targets from aerial attacks, were delivered to the Air Force by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau during a ceremony held in the city of Tula on March 18, 2010, RIA Novosti reported.

The addition of the new weapon system will increase the Russian Air Force's effectiveness and sustainability in air defence, Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik told the news agency.

The Pantsir-S1 (NATO name SA-22 Greyhound) is a short-range surface-to-air missile system that also features gun armaments which allows it to hit at high altitude, long range aerial targets as well as very small objects flying at extremely low heights. The missile can take on targets like helicopters, cruise missiles, drones and also precision bombs.

The fire control system of Pantsir-S1 includes a detection and tracking radar.

Weapons installed in the complex include two double-barreled 2A38M caliber 30 millimeter autocannon anti-aircraft guns having a range of 4 kilometers and 12 57E6-E ground-to-air hypersonic missiles.