Pantsir Missile System to Complement India's S-400s in a Big Way

Russia's mobile air defence system Pantsir would strengthen India's multi-layered air defence network, complementing the S-400s acquired from Russia in a multi-billion-dollar contract in 2018, experts have said.

The Pantsir system is designed to complement the S-400, noting that while the S-400 is highly effective, its missiles are costly, Viktor Litovkin, a retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst, explained.

"So, it is far more practical to deal with drones using more cost-effective air defence systems, such as the Pantsir, which has both missiles and 30mm guns. These can effectively engage such targets at ranges of 5-10 kilometres. In that sense, the Pantsir system works alongside the S-400," Viktor Litovkin, a retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst told Sputnik India.

The effectiveness of the Pantsir has been proven numerous times, including during the special military operation, which makes India's interest in the system unsurprising, he elaborated. Naturally, India wants to adapt the system to suit its specific needs. However, given India's Make in India policy, Russia often signs contracts where its equipment is assembled locally.

He cited the BrahMos missile as an example, which is named after two major rivers — the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva River in Russia. It consists of two components, with Russia transferring its Oniks supersonic anti-ship missile to India for this project. The Russians collaborated with Indian engineers to develop the missile, which is now used not only by submarines and surface ships but also as part of India's coastal defence system, Litovkin explained.

In fact, the BrahMos was modified to be launched from the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, which Russia had previously supplied to India, the military veteran suggested.

"I believe the same thing will happen with our Pantsir system. If the Indians are interested, we'll sign a contract and modify the Pantsir to meet India's specific requirements. The Pantsir will then be produced in India," he stated.

The expert underlined that Russia is the only country that allows India to manufacture its technology on Indian soil. Neither the United States nor France, both of which cooperate with India and sell military equipment, permit this, he added.

For instance, Dassault Aviation, which sold the Rafale jets to India, doesn't allow India to participate in their production, Litovkin pointed out, since France believes it would harm the reputation and image of Dassault's products. In case of accidents, it could negatively reflect on the company. That's why India is pexcluded from the process, with Dassault handling everything on their own.

"But with Russia, it is helping India develop its industry, its intellectual base, and its engineering capabilities. Moscow is not just handing over equipment, but also providing expertise, knowledge, and production technologies. This is the highest form of military-technical cooperation," Litovkin stressed.

Pantsir uses a mix of missiles and automatic guns to protect military bases and vital infrastructure from aerial threats; this combination of weaponry makes it effective in defending against a variety of attacks, providing reliable security where it is most needed, Bengaluru-based defence commentator Girish Linganna said in a conversation with Sputnik India.

The system is armed with twelve 57E6 surface-to-air missiles and two 30mm, 2A38M automatic cannons, allowing it to engage several targets at once. The missiles can reach up to 20 kilometers, while the cannons capable of firing up to 2,500 rounds per minute each can strike targets within 4 kilometers range, he pointed out.

He added that it can hit targets up to 15 kilometers in altitude, making it suitable for defending against low- to mid-altitude threats, such as subsonic cruise missiles and precision-guided weapons. This setup provides strong protection for important areas from a wide range of aerial attacks.

"The Pantsir is mounted on an 8x8 all-terrain vehicle [either Ural or Kamaz for the Russian military], which improves its ability to move easily over different types of ground. This design gives it strong mobility, allowing it to operate effectively in a range of environments," Linganna explained.

The system's fire control uses both radar and infrared imaging to accurately track and target threats, he noted. This setup helps it stay effective even when facing electronic interference, making it more reliable in combat situations.

The Pantsir can operate independently or in conjunction with other air defence systems to provide extensive protection against large-scale air attacks, Linganna remarked. It can take down fast-moving threats, like drones and helicopters, traveling up to 1,000 meters per second. The system is also designed to work reliably even when facing electronic interference, making it versatile in challenging conditions.

"It can work without constantly using radar, which allows it stay hidden from enemies. Instead, it uses optical tracking — like a camera like a camera — to detect and follow targets. This feature is especially useful in areas with strong electronic interference, where radar signals might be blocked or scrambled. By relying on these optical methods, the system can still effectively identify and engage threats, even when traditional tracking methods face interference."

In automatic combat mode, the Pantsir defence system quickly identifies incoming threats, ranks them based on urgency, and can attack up to four targets at once. It keeps track of up to 20 threats, responding within seconds, Linganna spotlighted.

He underscored that this capability, along with its fast reload and ease of movement, makes it ideal for defending key areas and important assets in combat. It typically requires a three-person crew: a driver, an operator, responsible for tracking and targeting, and a commander, who oversees the firing controls.

"For India, obtaining the Pantsir is more than just adding a new defence tool — it's a strategic step to strengthen multi-layered defense systems. The discussions surrounding this system highlight India's goal to uphold a strong, independent, and reliable defencestance amid a world with growing uncertainties," Linganna summed up.

Pantsir is an important addition to India's air defence network, Air Marshal (Retd) M Matheswaran said. While the S-400 is a huge system, it is a static platform and hence, there is a need for a mobile air defence set-up to be inducted into the country's military.

"A mobile air defence system is required for Army's maneuvering and armoured formations etc. But at the same time, any air defence has multiple layers and different components that come into play with it. So one system alone will complete an air defence requirement. On that account, Pantsir will complement the S-400 in a big way," the former Indian Air Force veteran implied.

Most modern air defence systems now cater to threats emanating from drones and Pantsir is no exception. It does have the ability to track and destroy multiple drones simultaneously and this capability will definitely enhance India's capacity to deal with a range of aerial threats, Matheswaran concluded.

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