On August 15, 2023, Russian forces announced the successful interception and destruction of four French SCALP missiles simultaneously, previously considered invincible. This accomplishment was achieved using the new hypersonic missiles integrated into the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system on Ukrainian territory.
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The system includes combat vehicles (up to six per battery), surface-to-air 48 guided missiles, a 30 mm cannon, transporter-loader vehicles, and maintenance/training facilities. (Picture source: cont.ws)
The Pantsir missile system, designed by the Tula Design Bureau of Instrument Design (KBP), is intended to counter a wide range of aerial threats. It has undergone multiple versions over time, with the earlier model being the Pantsir-S1. The latest iteration, known as the Pantsir-SM-SV, has recently completed its testing phase, as highlighted at the "Army 2023" military-technical conference. These new hypersonic missiles have proven effective in neutralizing the SCALP missiles.
The Pantsir-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound), which is of interest here, is an air defense missile-gun system developed by Russia's KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It is designed to protect military installations, industrial sites, and ground forces from precision-guided air attacks at low altitudes. The system includes combat vehicles (up to six per battery), surface-to-air 48 guided missiles, a 30mm cannon, transporter-loader vehicles, and maintenance/training facilities. It was unveiled at the MAKS Air Show in 1995 and has been utilized in various conflicts, including the Syrian Civil War, the Libyan Civil War, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Pantsir system's capability was further enhanced by the successful integration of hypersonic anti-aircraft interceptor missiles, as disclosed by the official representative of High-Precision Complexes JSC, the entity responsible for developing domestic air defense missile systems. These hypersonic missiles possess exceptional speed and maneuverability. The integration of these missiles with the Pantsir system allowed for the simultaneous destruction of four SCALP missiles. However, detailed information about these new hypersonic missiles is currently unavailable.
Storm Shadow / SCALP (French version) is a long-range cruise missile designed by MBDA, a multinational defense company headquartered in Europe. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Storm Shadow / SCALP (French version) is a long-range cruise missile designed by MBDA, a multinational defense company headquartered in Europe. Originally developed during the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was intended for use by the UK's Royal Air Force (Storm Shadow) and France's Air Force (SCALP), the Armée de l'Air. Known for its precision strikes on fortified targets, the missile utilizes a tandem warhead and advanced guidance system, combining GPS and terrain reference data for accurate targeting, even in adverse weather conditions.
With a range of approximately 560 kilometers (about 350 miles), the missile enables launching aircraft to maintain a safe distance from the target and its defenses. It can be deployed from various aircraft platforms including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado GR4, Mirage 2000, and Rafale. The Storm Shadow / SCALP missile has proven its efficacy and versatility in conflicts such as the Iraq war and military intervention in Libya.
The undeniable effectiveness of Storm Shadow / SCALP missiles in accurately targeting Russian installations has prompted Russia to take countermeasures against these missiles and their deployment units, thereby reducing their impact over time. Given the limited availability of these long-range precision munitions, with an estimated stockpile of several hundred missiles in the UK's arsenal, the introduction of the French SCALP variant holds significant importance. It would therefore seem that the Russian army has now succeeded in countering Shadow/SCALP missiles by working to innovate in the air defense sector, as evidenced by the presentation of the new Pantsir-SM-SV version presented at the current Army 2023 show.
