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New regiment of Pantsyr-S anti-aircraft missile systems goes on combat alert in Siberia

The Pantsyr-S surface-to-air missile/gun system is designed to shield military, administrative and industrial facilities and areas from enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and precision weapons and to boost air defenses in repelling massive air strikes

Pantsyr-S surface-to-air missile/gun system Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

Pantsyr-S surface-to-air missile/gun system

© Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

YEKATERINBURG, December 1. /TASS/. A new regiment armed with Pantsyr-S surface-to-air missile/gun systems has gone on combat alert in the Khakassia Region in Eastern Siberia, the press office of Russia’s Central Military District reported on Thursday.

"An official ceremony of the newly formed surface-to-air missile regiment going on combat alert took place on the ground of a military unit in the Republic of Khakassia… The personnel of the military unit will assume air defense combat alert," the press office said in a statement.

The official ceremony was attended by acting Commander of the Central Military District’s Air Force and Air Defense Army Colonel Gennady Shlag, members of the republic’s government, representatives of regional veteran and public organizations, it said.

Central Military District Commander Alexander Lapin announced on December 21, 2021 after a Defense Ministry board meeting that a new anti-aircraft missile regiment would be set up in 2022.

The Pantsyr-S surface-to-air missile/gun system is designed to shield military, administrative and industrial facilities and areas from enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and precision weapons and to boost air defenses in repelling massive air strikes. It consists of 12 surface-to-air missiles (six missiles in two transport and launch containers each). The Pantsyr is also armed with two 30mm 2A38M surface-to-air guns, each of which is capable of firing up to 40 rounds per second.

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