Russia upgrades air-defense Pantsir systems to counter UAVs

Russia is upgrading its short-range Pantsir-S air-defense systems to improve its capability to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"The modernization of these unique systems aimed at increasing their effectiveness against UAVs has already started," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted ministry spokesman Igor Klimov as saying.

The new systems will also be adapted for deployment in harsh climate conditions in the Arctic region, he added.

Klimov said extensive modernization program was to be completed by 2015 when the Russian forces will start receiving the new systems.

The Pantsir-S (SA-22 Greyhound in NATO classification) is a wheeled vehicle armed with two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 remotely- guided short-range missiles. The system is designed to destroy low- altitude highly maneuverable targets.

About 50 Pantsir-S systems are currently in service in the Russian air force, according to the defense ministry.