Russia unveils Pantsir-SMD-E: Improved drone defence sans cannons
The Russian Federation acknowledges that older Pantsir cannons are ineffective, reports Defense Express, which describes the presentation of the new Pantsir-SMD-E system. This equipment is designed, among other things, for combating drones.
The Russians unveiled their new equipment during the Army-2024 fair. The new version of the popular Pantsir system, the Pantsir-SMD-E, was showcased at a closed event. The latest generation removed the 30-millimetre automatic cannons compared to the previous version.
New Pantsir-SMD-E system
As noted by Defense Express, removing the aforementioned cannons is a particularly significant decision, as the Pantsir-SMD-E now relies on 57E6E, TKB-1055 missiles, or their combination. The Russians are acknowledging that 30-millimetre cannons were ineffective in combat. According to the report, the reasons for abandoning the cannons are quite interesting – it's the low effectiveness of their fire in intercepting drones.
Analysts from Defense Express emphasize that this is an excellent example of the level of some allegedly advanced Russian solutions. This is because competing anti-aircraft systems are effective against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This suggests that the Russians could not create an appropriate weapon of this type, as demonstrated by the Gepard anti-aircraft system.
What has been updated in the new version of the Pantsir? The SMD-E variant was shown in an independent static configuration, but it can be integrated with trucks or surface platforms—just like its predecessors. The turret of the new Pantsir-SMD-E can hold up to 12 short-range surface-to-air missiles 57E6E, 48 very short-range mini rockets TKB-1055, or a combination of both types.
New Russian equipment
The aforementioned TKB-1055 is a relatively new design intended to combat one of the most prominent threats on the front today—drones. The range of these mini rockets reaches about 6.4 kilometres, while the 57E6E missiles, according to the specifications, can target targets even 19 kilometres away.
– The Pantsir family of systems is constantly being improved and expanded. The new Pantsir-SMD-E is designed to protect stationary objects from air attack weapons, including massive drone attacks – summarized Bekkhan Ozdoyev from Rostec, the state enterprise responsible for weapon production. [Rostec, the state-owned enterprise responsible for weapon production, had this to say: The Pantsir system family is constantly being improved and expanded. The new Pantsir-SMD-E was designed to protect stationary objects from air attacks, including mass drone attacks.]
The new Pantsir-SMD-E complex also includes two radars. One is used to detect and track potential threats, while the other is used exclusively for missile guidance. As mentioned earlier, this is where the offensive capabilities of the new Russian design end. The SMD-E lacks the dual-barreled 2A38M 30-millimetre automatic cannons, which were standard in previous Pantsir models.
