At the end of 1994, the instrument-making design bureau presented for the first time a model of a new unique anti-aircraft missile and artillery complex "Pantsir-S1". A year after the demonstration of the model of the weapon of the future in August 1995, its working model was presented at the air show, which is held annually in the city of Zhukovsky. According to experts, this was a breakthrough in the creation of weapons for the air defense of the ground forces.
Unlike other SPAAGs, which are in service with the Russian army, this complex is mounted on the basis of an 8x8 automobile chassis, which ensures high cross-country ability. The Ural-5323.4 with the installed KamAZ-7406 engine, the power of which after revision was 260 hp, was chosen as the basis. The main goal that the designers pursued when choosing a car chassis was a significant reduction in the cost of the complex, the task of which was to cover rear objects and columns of armored vehicles on the march.
The main feature of the complex is that it can detect and destroy any enemy aircraft, helicopter, guided aerial bomb or ballistic missile in a matter of seconds. The Pantsir-C1 complex is also designed to destroy ground targets, which makes it truly versatile. The complex combines anti-aircraft missile and cannon weapons, there are no analogues to such a combination in the world today. The author of the unique weapons is the Russian designer, academician Arkady Shipunov.
"Pantsir-S1" is a weapon of the future and its main purpose is to protect military and civilian objects from air attacks at close quarters. The main difference between the Pantsir-S1 complex and foreign models is the ability to conduct targeted rocket fire at a high speed of movement of the launcher. Thanks to this opportunity, when escorting a column of armored vehicles, there is no need to stop movement, to repel an enemy air attack, everything is done in dynamics.
The Pantsir-S1 complex is equipped with 12 new 57E6 missiles, outwardly and in layout similar to the 9M311 missiles of the Tunguska air defense missile system. The outer shell of the rocket is bicaliber, the engine is located in the second detachable stage, which ensured a high flight speed. The rocket has a short flight time at the launch site. The targeted destruction zone is 12 kilometers in range and 8 kilometers in height. The mass of the main warhead, which consists of rod striking elements, is 20 kg. The rocket uses an air-dynamic steering gear. Taking into account the combat situation, the complex can simultaneously direct up to 3 missiles. Artillery armament "Pantsir-S1" consists of two automatic 30-mm cannons 2A72. The single-barreled cannons were selected. War charges are used in two types of armor-piercing and high-explosive incendiary charges, the supply is made selectively from two cartridge belts.
The main combat module, located on the roof of the carrier chassis, includes: two cannons located on the inside of the missile and launch containers of missiles, 2 blocks of 6 anti-aircraft missiles, a radar station for tracking and detecting targets and a missile guidance system. There is a built-in optical channel included in the fire control system. In the working space of the body of the combat vehicle, the workplaces of the crew commander and guidance operators are located.
According to the developers, the Pantsir-C1 combat complex has a unique ability to fire from almost all types of available weapons in the dynamics of movement. The complex is capable of striking fire at a fairly wide range of targets - helicopters and airplanes before they use their own onboard weapons, guided missiles, as well as lightly armored ground targets and enemy personnel. The combat complex control system has a high level of resistance to various types of interference due to the combination of optoelectronic and radar equipment into a single system that operates in the IR, DM, CM and MM wavelength ranges. In the radar mode, a simultaneous salvo of two missiles at one target is possible. The tracking system can automatically track and control up to 20 targets and issue target instructions with an accuracy of 0.4 degrees in azimuth, 0.7 degrees in elevation and a range of 50 meters. The system in a fully automatic mode calculates the parameters of the selected target and its movement, as well as selects weapons and determines the purpose of the type of fire.
One of the innovations is the work that the Tula masters have done on the automation of the Pantsir-C1 complex. All complexes are in constant interaction with each other, and if several complexes form a battery, then one of them automatically becomes a command post. The computer of the command machine makes all decisions and communicates instructions to others. First of all, it is necessary for tracking and destroying targets. The command center distributes targets between the complexes, or if the target alone gives the order to destroy the complex that is located in a more advantageous position at the time of the enemy's attack.
Many people call the Pantsir-C1 complex a constructor, and in this they are absolutely right. All parts are assembled separately and can be easily replaced. In military operations, such versatility is essential. If, for example, a splinter gets into the radar system, there is no need to wait for the repair team and dismantle the entire machine, it is enough to dismantle the damaged module and install a new one. Thus, the anti-aircraft missile system in a short time will again be ready to perform a combat mission.
The block construction is useful for modification as well. It is enough to replace a certain block with a more advanced or modernized one without the need to transfer the entire complex to a repair company, everything is done in the field and in a short time.
Today, the Pantsir-C1 complex is in service not only with Russia, but also with many countries in the Middle East, and it can be noted that the demand for weapons of the future is not decreasing.
