Moscow is now battling daily drone strikes. The Kremlin now seems to want to counterbalance it with an almost hundred-year-old invention: Pantsir air defense systems are placed on metal towers around Moscow. The construction is reminiscent of the anti-aircraft towers of World War II, because anti-aircraft guns were also mounted there.
The almost daily drone attacks on the largest country in terms of area are putting pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. There will be great unrest if the Russian people come to the conclusion that the government cannot adequately protect the people against attacks from Ukraine.
Pantsir on metal towers
Knowing that necessity is the mother of invention, the Russian military seems to have come up with a particularly original idea: Pantsir (also spelled Pantsir) air defense systems were placed on metal towers. The construction is reminiscent of the anti-aircraft guns of the Second World War, ie high bunkers where anti-aircraft guns, shortened to ‘Flak’, are installed.
The turrets must allow a clear field of fire. Such buildings existed only in Vienna, Berlin and Hamburg. However, they have only survived (in their form) in the Austrian capital. In Hamburg and Berlin they were partly blown up and partly heavily modified.
The state television channel Russia proudly presents 24 images showing the Pantsir systems at unusual heights. Moscow seems to hope that the unmanned aerial vehicles can be better intercepted and that so-called holes in the air defense can be closed.
Difficult to intercept drones
Experts assume that when it comes to combating drones, their size and speed are the biggest problem. You drive like a faster car. Air defense systems, on the other hand, target large and fast objects, such as missiles, airplanes or helicopters. “A drone the size of a car can fly very far relatively unscathed,” confirms military expert Colonel Markus Reisner.
Moscow is preparing for an emergency
Since the beginning of 2023, reports of air defense systems in Moscow have been appearing again and again. An air defense system on the roof of the Russian Ministry of Defense caused a stir. The Pantsir-S1 standing there weighs 35 tons and costs about 15 million euros.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
