The initial photograph of the Pantsir-SM-SV air defense system, a new-generation anti-air missile system, has appeared from the SVO zone, demonstrating Russia’s newest military equipment sent to aid ground forces. Produced by the Russian KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, this system uses a tracked GM-352M1E base and is designed to protect army units during movements in safe areas and near the front lines.
The picture, taken by Russian journalist Evgeny Damanstev, shows the system in action in harsh conditions, such as the Kursk border zone, where its capabilities are being tested on the ground.
This latest iteration of the Pantsir family builds on a legacy of air defense vehicles dating back to the Tunguska-M1, a Soviet-era combat vehicle marked by the combination of gun and missile firepower.The Pantsir-SM-SV builds on the tracked chassis layout, namely an improved version of the GM-352 used initially in the Tunguska series.
Belarus’s Minsk Tractor Plant
Manufactured by Belarus’s Minsk Tractor Plant, this chassis is more mobile on difficult terrain, a key requirement for operation in areas with a sparse road network. The vehicle’s hydropneumatic suspension and six road wheels per side allow it to move across off-road ground effectively, and it is thus well suited to quick deployment to locations such as pontoon bridge sites, where quick access could be a logistical issue.
A key advancement in the Pantsir-SM-SV is its radar technology, which sets it apart from earlier models. The system incorporates a new surveillance radar that utilises Active Electronically Scanned Array [AESA] technology.
According to Damanstev’s report, this radar can detect targets with a radar cross-section [RCS] of 1 square meter at a range of approximately 60 kilometres. For the smaller targets, such as the GMLRS rockets employed by HIMARS systems with an RCS of 0.07 square metres, the detection range is 27–30 kilometres. This allows the system to detect and track an enormous range of airborne threats, from larger aircraft to guided missiles, to create a solid defensive umbrella for ground troops.
Reflective Phased Array Design
Complementing the surveillance radar is the 1RS-3, a three-channel target tracking and missile guidance radar. This system employs a reflective phased array design, which offers improved energy efficiency and resistance to electronic jamming.
The integration of these radars increases its ability to function in the contested environment where the enemy would try to degrade air defense capabilities through electronic warfare. The employment of such sophisticated radar systems is one aspect of a larger trend in contemporary military technology, where situational awareness and quick reaction times become more crucial in countering changing threats.
The weaponry of the Pantsir-SM-SV also demonstrates its versatility. Various missiles can equip the system to counter different threats.The standard 57E6 missile is a two-stage, solid-fuel missile with radio and optical guidance, used for many years. A stronger version, the 57E6M, reaches 40 kilometres and hits speeds of 1,800 metres per second for distant, fast targets.
The Pantsir-SM-SV also fires TKB-1055 missiles, designed to hit MLRS rockets and small, hard-to-detect drones. This mix of missiles lets the system handle everything from fast jets to swarms of small drones.
Its arrival in Kursk highlights its value in tough, off-road areas with growing military pressure. Near the Ukraine border, the region has seen increased activity and new supply routes, demanding strong air defences.
Shifting Battlefield
The system can move fast over rough terrain, giving instant protection to supply lines and troop concentrations. Its GM-352-based tracked chassis lets it keep pace with mechanised units and adapt to shifting battlefield threats.
The Pantsir family, including the SM-SV, evolved from the Tunguska-M1, introduced in the 1980s. The Tunguska was a self-propelled anti-aircraft system with twin 30mm cannons and 9M311 missiles. It was designed to shield infantry and tank units from low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
However, its limited range and older radar technology drove the creation of the Pantsir series in 1990. The Pantsir-S1 was the first widely deployed version, offering wheeled chassis options and better radar, entering service in 2003.
The SM-SV returns to a tracked design, that is that is optimised for mobile ground force support instead of static base defense. Its AESA radar is a major technological leap for the Pantsir family. AESA radars steer their beams electronically using many small antennas, avoiding slow mechanical scanning. This means faster target tracking and greater resilience to enemy jamming and interference.
This advantage is vital in modern warfare, where electronic countermeasures are common. It can spot small targets, like GMLRS rockets, at 27–30 kilometres, giving precious time for interception.
1RS-3 Tracking Radar
Such range is essential because these munitions are fast and highly accurate. The radar might also track larger drones or aircraft at even greater distances. Publicly available data on its performance against bigger targets is still scarce.
The 1RS-3 tracking radar adds another level of capability. Its three channels can track multiple targets and guide missiles at the same time. This makes it more effective against coordinated air attacks.
It uses phased array reflection technology, offering strong jamming resistance at a lower cost than some Western AESA systems.Its high energy output helps break through enemy electronic interference. Integration with the missile guidance system ensures accurate strikes on small, fast-moving targets.
Missile choices for the Pantsir-SM-SV show a flexible, modular approach to air defense. The 57E6 is a two-stage missile with a booster that launches it within two seconds. Its sustainer stage holds the warhead and guidance electronics. The 57E6M improves on range and speed, likely thanks to upgraded propulsion and aerodynamics.
The TKB-1055
The TKB-1055, on the other hand, is a shorter-range missile designed to be budget-friendly against clusters of low-value targets, like drones in a swarm. This provides commanders the option to customise the system loadout according to the anticipated threat—a practical consideration for extended operations where ammunition resupply is an issue.
In the Kursk area, the role of the Pantsir-SM-SV extends beyond direct combat support. The deployment of logistics bases in off-road positions would suggest a priority for continuing military operations on a wide front.
Air defense systems like these are essential for defending such nodes against air reconnaissance and attacks, particularly since drones and precision-guided weapons have become standard in recent conflicts.
Its mobility guarantees the ability to shift to new locations as necessary, conforming to changing priorities on the battlefield. The Pantsir-SM-SV photo, as per Damanstev, offers a preview of its operational deployment. Western media has not widely circulated the image, but its emergence from the SVO zone indicates active deployment in a high-risk area.
Conclusion
Russia placed the system in Kursk to strengthen border defences against Ukrainian drones and NATO-supplied munitions. Its tracked chassis and strong radar make it ideal for areas needing wide coverage and rapid movement. As tech evolves, systems like the Pantsir-SM-SV show how nations race to control the skies.
With mobility, advanced radar, and flexible weapons, it leads Russia’s push in air defense. Whether it changes the war or not, its role is to protect ground forces in harsh battlefield conditions. Pantsir-SM-SV demonstrates that, for the time being, layered air defense is still essential in today’s hybrid warfare.
References
- Defense News Today – https://www.defensenewstoday.info/
- Russian Defense Ministry—https://eng.mil.ru/
- TASS News Agency – https://tass.com/
- Evgeny Damanstev’s reporting on VK—https://vk.com/
- Belarus Minsk Tractor Plant – http://www.mtz.by/en/
- KBP Instrument Design Bureau—https://www.kbptula.ru/en/
