Russia has erected new anti-aircraft towers around Moscow in a response to increasing attacks from Ukrainian drones.
Towers Around Berlin
They have mounted the Pancyr-S1 systems on these structures. This move echoes the German WWII Flakturm towers built around Berlin, aiming to bolster air defense against low-flying targets, according to WP.
Since the latter half of 2023, Russia has been installing Pancyr-S1 systems on towers surrounding Moscow to enhance their effectiveness against drones and other aerial threats.
This strategy follows an earlier, less effective attempt to place Pancyr-S1 systems on rooftops within the city, where urban structures limited their operational efficiency.
Detects Targets Close to Ground
The primary challenge with ground-based anti-aircraft radars is detecting targets flying close to the ground, such as just above trees. The detection range is limited to about 40 kilometers due to radar horizon constraints.
To overcome this, raising the radar height improves its range—a concept exemplified by AWACS aircraft used in collaboration with ground-based systems. However, Russia faces difficulties due to limited A-50 aircraft and losses incurred.
The Pancyr-S1 system, a modern successor to the Tunguska, was developed during Russia’s economically challenging 1990s. The project, initially threatened by budget cuts, received crucial funding from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enabling its completion. The system entered service with UAE in the early 2000s and with Russia in 2012.
The Pancyr-S1 features dual radars: one for target detection and another for weapon guidance. It is equipped with two 30mm automatic cannons and a missile launcher with twelve tubes, allowing simultaneous engagement of multiple targets.
The system can engage targets up to 20 kilometers away and at altitudes up to 15 kilometers. However, it requires manual guidance for missiles and lacks the advanced programmability of newer systems like the SkyNet.
