Army-2024 – KBP unveils the new short-range ADS Pantsir-SMD-E
JSC “Instrument Design Bureau” (KBP, part of the “High Precision Systems” holding) presented the new short-range air defence system (ADS) Pantsir-SMD-E at the Army-2024 exhibition
As reported by KBP, the new system is designed to provide air defence of small-sized military and administrative-industrial facilities and areas from the massive use of air attack weapons, especially from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Due to its reduced weight it can be easily installed on the roofs of buildings. A special feature of the system is the remote control via fibre optics by one operator, who is located in a shelter at a distance of up to 500 meters.
The system includes: the RLS-O-E surveillance radar, a combat module with combined missile armament (two types of surface-to-air missiles), maintenance facilities, and training facilities.
The RLS-O-E surveillance radar detects approaching targets, locks them on automatic tracking, identifies targets, and determines their nationality. Target designation data is then transmitted to the combat module (CM) with combined missile armament. The RLS-O-E can operate in sector and circular modes, detects targets with a radar cross section (RCS) of 1 m2 at a range of 45 km, and can simultaneously track up to 40 targets.
The CM itself is equipped with an airspace surveillance radar (ASSR), a millimetre-range multifunctional radar (MFR) with a phased antenna array, an optical-electronic station (OES), and launchers with SAMs.
ASSR with electronic two-dimensional scanning in elevation and azimuth surveys the space, detects and tracks up to 20 targets. ASSR receives target designation, conducts additional search, carries out automatic acquisition and automatic tracking of up to four targets and guides up to four SAMs.
OES carries out space survey on the operator’s commands for the purpose of visually assessing the air and ground situation.
The Pantsir-SMD-E ADS can use two types of SAMs: the 57E6-E with a fragmentation-rod warhead and the TKB-1055 short-range intercept missile. The 57E6-E SAM is capable of hitting an aircraft-type target at a range of 1,200 to 20,000 metres in an altitude range of 15 to 15,000 metres, while the TKB-1055 SAM at a range of 500 to 7,000 metres and an altitude range of 15 to 5,000 metres. The Pantsir-SMD-E system provides salvo firing of SAMs. The missiles can be fitted on the combat module with any combination in a ratio of four TKB-1055 SAMs to one 57E6-E. The maximum number of missiles placed on the combat module of the ADS system is up to 12 57E6-E missiles or up to 48 TKB-1055 missiles.
Photos by N. Morris at Army 2024
