Fear of drone attacks
Russians build anti-aircraft towers in their own country
09/05/2023, 00:10
Earlier this year, the Russian armed forces stationed anti-aircraft systems on administrative buildings in Moscow. Now the military planners are going a step further. Footage shows specially constructed metal towers and ramps on which the weapons are placed.
Presumably to ward off drone attacks, the Russian military has built metal towers and special ramps in the country, on which anti-aircraft systems of the type Pantsir S-1 are stationed. This is shown by recordings by the state news channel Rossiya 24, which were broadcast on Sunday. Apparently, Russia’s military planners are hoping that this will make it easier to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicles that have been attacking Russian regions for weeks.
Based on the broadcast footage, the Czech journalist was able to Mark Krutov geolocate one of the anti-aircraft positions. Accordingly, the shown facility with two ramps is located near the village of Zarechye, less than ten kilometers from the Novo-Ogaryovo estate, where Russian President Vladimir Putin resides. According to Krutov, the position has existed for some time, but has been expanded and reinforced with ramps in recent weeks.
The Military Analyst HI Sutton drew a comparison with the flak towers of the Third Reich based on the pictures. High-rise bunkers with mounted anti-aircraft guns were supposed to keep the Allied bomber fleets in check during the Second World War and at the same time offer protection to the population. The elevated position should give the “Flak” a clear field of fire.
The idea of positioning anti-aircraft systems of the Pantir type higher is not new in Russia either. The Kremlin stationed the systems on several administration buildings in Moscow as early as January. According to experts, size and speed are the key issues in countering drones. However, common air defense systems are usually calibrated to large and fast objects such as rockets, airplanes and helicopters, whereas drones are often smaller and slower.
The Pantsir S-1 is a mobile surface-to-air missile system and is suitable for short-range and high-altitude targets. It has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2012. Mounted on a four-axle truck, the system often takes over the property protection of airports and headquarters.