The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) denied the destruction of eight Syrian Pantsir S1s systems by unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), despite footage shared by the Turkish Defense Ministry. President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan on 10 March that at least 8 Russian-made Pantsir anti-aircraft systems had been destroyed during eight days of intense fighting from 27 February. Russia said that “the claim is more than an overestimation,” adding that the main air defenses of the Assad regime are mainly positioned in Damascus. In the Idlib region, there are currently four Pantsirs – two having been damaged in the Turkish attacks. The damaged systems are currently being repaired, the statement reads.
Video footage shared by the Turkish Defense Ministry on social media last week showed an active Russian-made Pantsir air defense system being successfully destroyed by the Turkish military. Turkey attacked the Pantsirs with the help of their combat drones in the recent active phase of Turkey’s cross border Operation Spring Shield. Turkey launches deadly airstrikes against Syrian forces after more than three dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Syrian government forces near Idlib. Turkey is a main backer of the Syrian opposition while Russia has been giving military support to the weeks-long Syrian government.
Russia denies Turkey's successful targeting of its much-vaunted Pantsir anti-aircraft systems, despite footage showing following:pic.twitter.com/rdSYVuKBZU
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) March 10, 2020
The Pantsir-S1 (NATO reporting name SA-22 Greyhound) is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems, produced by KBP Instrument Design Bureau of Tula, Russia. Pantsir-S1 carries up to twelve 57E6 (export designation 57E6-E) two-stage solid fuel radio/optical command-guided surface-to-air missiles in sealed ready-to-launch container tubes. Two dual 2A38M 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannon guns are fitted with 700 rounds of a variety of ammunition—HE (High Explosive) fragmentation, fragmentation tracer, and armour-piercing with tracer. Ammunition type can be selected by the crew depending on the nature of the target. Maximum rate of fire is 2,500 rounds per minute per gun. Range is up to 4 km (2.5 mi).
