The combat teams of Pantsyr-S1 surface-to-air missile/gun systems from the Northern Fleet’s tactical force stationed on Kotelny Island of the New Siberian Islands archipelago practiced delivering fire against ground targets during drills. The mock-ups of armored personnel carriers and snowmobiles located at a distance of three kilometers from the air defense missile systems were used as the targets. All the targets were successfully struck by the fire from the Pantsyr-S1 systems 30 mm rapid-fire, the Russian Federation Defence Ministry reported on Monday.
The Pantsyr-S1 systems in service with the Northern Fleet and operational on Kotelny Island are adapted to low temperatures and are capable of accomplishing combat assignments in the Arctic without any additional adjustments. The Pantsyr-S1 is designed primarily for providing air defense of military facilities in the near zone, but can be successfully used to defeat surface and ground targets. In the course of the exercise, the combat crews improved their skills of usage of military hardware in the Arctic conditions.
The Pantsyr-S1 (NATO reporting name SA-22 Greyhound) is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems and produced by KBP Instrument Design Bureau of Tula, Russia. The Pantsir-S1 was designed to provide point air defence against aircraft, helicopters, precision munitions, cruise missiles and UAVs; and to provide additional protection to air defence units against enemy air attacks employing precision munitions, especially at low to extremely low altitudes.
The Pantsyr mounted on the truck chassis for greater mobility is armed with two 30mm guns, each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second, as well as 12 anti-aircraft missiles. 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).
