A Ukrainian partisan group, Atesh, recently discovered a previously unknown location of Russia’s Pancyr-S1 air defense system near Moscow.
Protecting Russian Capital
According to Atesh and WP, after recent successful Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, Moscow has intensified efforts to safeguard key industrial, military, and administrative sites.
The Pancyr-S1 systems, stationed on the outskirts of Moscow, are primarily designed to protect the Russian capital from drone attacks. The system can also defend against aircraft and cruise missiles if needed.
Russian forces have been increasingly deploying these air defense systems at elevated positions, such as rooftops and specially constructed towers, to enhance radar coverage.
Defend Against Aerial Threats
The Pancyr-S1 has been in service since the 1990s and remains a core element of Russia's defense strategy.
It’s used both in Ukraine and across Russia to shield vital assets, including refineries, military bases, and even President Vladimir Putin's winter residence in Sochi.
The primary purpose of the system is to defend against aerial threats like drones and missiles, which have become a growing concern as Ukraine continues to strike targets deeper within Russia.
The Pancyr-S1 system is armed with 57E6 or 57E6-E missiles, which have a range of approximately 12 miles (20 km) and can reach targets at altitudes of up to 9 miles (15 km). Additionally, it is equipped with 30 mm 2A38M automatic cannons, effective up to 2.5 miles (4 km).
Despite its advanced design, the Pancyr-S1 system has shown weaknesses during the ongoing war in Ukraine. One of its notable vulnerabilities is its difficulty intercepting certain Western weapons, such as the British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have been used effectively by Ukrainian forces.
