North Korea unveils its own version of Russia’s Pantsir air defense system.

North Korea unveiled a new short-range air defense system, similar to the tracked variant of Russia’s Pantsir-S1, during the October 2025 defense exhibition in Pyongyang.

North Korea presented a new short-range air defense system, which we will informally refer to as the Pantsir-NK in this article, at the Development of National Defense 2025 exhibition in Pyongyang. The tracked launcher, which resembles Russia’s tracked variant of the Pantsir-S1 (the Pantsir-SM-SV), is designed to counter drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its air defense network amid increasing technical exchanges with Russia.
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North Korea has revealed a new short-range air defense system that strongly bears similarities with the tracked variant of Russia’s Pantsir-S1, named Pantsir-SM-SV. (Picture source: KCNA)

The Pantsir-NK stands out for its tracked configuration, which differs from North Korea’s earlier wheeled air defense vehicles, such as the Tor-NK. Mounted on an eight-wheeled chassis, the Pantsir-NK seems to carry two launchers containing six missiles each, for a total of twelve missiles, as well as a radar system positioned at the rear. Like the Russian Pantsir, it was likely built to protect armored formations and key installations from drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft. Unlike the Russian Pantsir-S1, which combines missiles and twin 30 mm cannons, the North Korean version relies entirely on missile interceptors, at least for now. This simplified approach could make it easier to maintain and operate in varied terrain, but at the cost of a stronger firepower to manage multiple threats at the same time.

Like many military assets of this country, the Pantsir-NK’s chassis appears to share design features with existing North Korean tracked platforms such as the Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile launcher and the M-1989 or Juche 107 self-propelled artillery systems. Reusing existing production lines would allow Pyongyang to cut manufacturing costs while ensuring parts compatibility across its vehicle fleet. The overall design and layout closely mirror concepts currently being developed in Russia, where tracked Pantsir models are replacing older 2K22 Tunguska vehicles. Kim’s mention of artificial intelligence in his speech suggests that some degree of automation could be incorporated into the Pantsir-NK’s targeting or radar systems, improving reaction speed against drones and precision-guided munitions. However, if the Pantsir-NK goes into production, it could fill a clear operational gap between portable air-defense systems and North Korea’s long-range surface-to-air missile batteries, helping to create a more complete layered defense structure.

Since the 1950s, Pyongyang has steadily built a dense defensive network made up of anti-aircraft artillery, surface-to-air missiles, and radar systems. In the early decades, its defenses relied heavily on Soviet-supplied equipment such as the S-75 Dvina, S-125 Pechora, and S-200 Angara, supported by a vast array of 23 mm, 37 mm, and 57 mm guns. Over time, North Korea produced its own versions of man-portable missiles like the Strela and Igla, gradually shifting toward domestic manufacturing. Upgrades in the 1990s and 2000s added mobility and improved resistance to jamming, while the introduction of the Lightning-5 (Pon’gae-5) and the Meteor-1-2 (Pon’gae-6) in the 2010s marked a move into longer-range, radar-guided missile systems. Despite technological constraints, this steady evolution has kept North Korea’s air defense network among the most layered and redundant in Asia.

Today, that network extends across land, sea, and air. On the ground, the Pon’gae-5 and Pon’gae-6 provide long-range coverage, while systems like the new Pantsir-NK and various man-portable missiles defend against low-altitude threats. In the air, North Korea is testing its first early warning aircraft based on an Il-76 transport fitted with a large fixed radar dome, which could eventually link with ground-based missile batteries. At sea, Pyongyang’s navy has begun integrating similar technologies. The Choe Hyŏn-class destroyer, revealed in 2024, features a navalized Pantsir-type system (maybe the Pantsir-ME) with short-range missiles, twin 30 mm guns, and a modern radar suite. The smaller Amnok-class corvette uses a similar combination of missile and gun defenses. Together, these upgrades indicate an effort to standardize air defense systems across all branches, uniting radar, command, and engagement networks under a single operational approach.

The unveiling of the Pantsir-NK also reflects the broader military and industrial partnership growing between North Korea and Russia. Over the past two years, Pyongyang has become a major supplier of ammunition to Moscow, sending an estimated 200,000 to 260,000 shells per month and reportedly transferring short-range ballistic missiles such as the KN-23 and KN-24. Thousands of North Korean troops and labor personnel have also been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region to assist with wartime logistics and construction. In exchange, Russia is believed to have provided air defense systems, missile technologies, and other military support. A “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement signed in June 2024 formalized this cooperation, pledging mutual defense assistance and deeper technological collaboration.

This growing alliance has been accompanied by frequent diplomatic exchanges and joint events. In early October 2025, a Russian government aircraft made a short visit to Pyongyang, following a ceremony in Moscow where both countries’ defense ministers unveiled a monument honoring Korean partisans who fought alongside Soviet forces in World War II. These gestures, combined with concrete military cooperation, show a relationship that has moved beyond symbolism. The new Pantsir-NK embodies this trend: a North Korean system clearly influenced by Russian designs but adapted to local production and operational needs. This also reminds me of how China started to develop its own defense industry during the Cold War, thanks to the Soviet Union.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.