- Russia unveiled the Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system at Dubai Airshow 2025, designed specifically for intercepting drones.
- The system replaces cannons with up to 48 TKB-1055 mini-missiles and features updated AESA radar and Belarusian optics.
Russia has introduced a new short-range air defense system at the Dubai Airshow 2025, aimed specifically at countering unmanned aerial threats.
The system, called Pantsir-SMD-E, features updated radar technology and a new mini-missile designed to intercept drones, but omits the twin 30mm autocannons found on earlier versions.
According to Russian officials, the Pantsir-SMD-E is being publicly displayed in the Middle East for the first time and reflects Russia’s focus on modular, scalable air defense tailored to evolving battlefield threats — especially small, low-flying drones.
One of the key changes in the Pantsir-SMD-E variant is the introduction of the TKB-1055 missile, a compact surface-to-air interceptor designed to target unmanned aerial vehicles at ranges of up to 7 kilometers and altitudes of up to 5 kilometers. The launch module can reportedly hold up to 48 of these mini-interceptors or 12 standard-sized missiles.
The system does not include the traditional 30mm automatic cannons that equipped earlier Pantsir variants, which were originally intended for close-in defense against aircraft and cruise missiles. Instead, the Pantsir-SMD-E shifts entirely to missile-based intercepts, allowing for a greater number of engagements per launcher.
The new Pantsir-SMD-E is built on a modular design, allowing its components to be networked via fiber-optic links. This enables distributed deployment of launcher and sensor units, which can be positioned on rooftops or specially prepared platforms to scale defenses across a facility or urban area.
Russian defense officials at the show did not specify which vehicles or structures would carry the Pantsir-SMD-E, but the system’s compact footprint and modular layout suggest it is intended for flexible, point-defense applications in high-risk zones such as forward operating bases, refineries, or airfields.
Russia’s presentation at the Dubai Airshow comes as drone warfare increasingly defines modern conflict zones, including in Ukraine, Syria, and North Africa. The Pantsir-SMD-E appears tailored to this environment, where large numbers of low-cost drones are used to probe and saturate air defenses.