In view of the huge damage caused to the huge and expensive weapons due to drone attacks in the Middle East war, India can now bet on a new air defense system. Russia has recently made a new proposal to further strengthen India's air defense capability. Under this proposal, India has been offered the state-of-the-art short-range air defense system Pantsir-S1M, the main objective of which is to protect India's strategic systems like S-400 Triumph from drone attacks.

Recent conflicts in the Middle East have seen:

• Small and cheap drones attack in swarms and overload large systems
• Cruise missiles and low-flying weapons evade radar and penetrate deep into
• Expensive air defense systems can also be targeted by saturation attack.
• That is, long distance system alone is not enough, strong security of the last layer is necessary.

What is the specialty of Pantsir-S1M?

• Pantsir-S1M is a mobile air defense system that uses both missiles and guns.
• It can identify targets up to a distance of about 80 km.
• Can track up to 40 targets simultaneously
• Has the capability to attack with missiles up to 30 km
• Capable of hitting targets up to 18 km altitude
• The speed of the 57E6M-E missile used in it is about Mach 5 (1700 m/s).
• For close threat, it is equipped with a 30mm double automatic gun, which can fire up to 5000 rounds per minute.

Important role in security of S-400

The S-400 Triumph is highly effective at hitting large long-range targets such as fighter jets and bombers, but its radar and launcher can be attacked by small drones or low-flying weapons. In such a situation, Pantsir-S1M will act as the last line of defense and eliminate those threats that cross the first layer of S-400.

Integration with existing systems in India

This system will work together with India's indigenous Akash missile system and Project Kusha. This will further strengthen India's multi-layer air defense network.

Strategic advantage of Pantsir-S1M

• Such close-in air defense system will increase the security of important military bases.
• Radar and command center will be safe
• Air defense network will remain operational even during major attacks
• That is, this proposal can be a big step towards further strengthening India's changing military strategy, multi-layer and network-based air defense.