Article Posted on : - Apr 13, 2015

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia will equip its armed force with an improved Pantsir-S2 combined gun-missile system which will enter active military service before the end of 2015, a news report said.

The potential deal includes the purchase of three Pantsir-S1 air defence batteries (up to 18 units) estimated at $1 billion, a Sputnik report quoting a top military commander said.

According to Viktor Gumenny, Commander of Air Defence Troops of the Russian Air Force, the upgraded Pantsir-S2 has completed trials and will join the force before the end of this year.

Pantsir-S2, is an updated version of the Pantsir-S1 - a short-range, mobile, fully autonomous air defence system combining two 2A38M 30mm anti-aircraft guns and six 57E6-E ready-to-fire missiles in steered launch containers, the report said.

Pantsir-S1 can shoot down airborne targets flying up to Mach 3 (1,000 m/s) at ranges between 1.2 to 20 kilometers and altitudes varying from 5 to 10,000 metres.

The two automatic anti-aircraft guns deliver a maximum rate of fire between 4,500 and 5,000 rounds per minute. The gun system is able to take out targets at ranges between 200 to 4,000 meters at altitudes between zero and 3,000 metres, it said.