India and Russia have reached a new agreement in the field of defense.
India and Russia have signed a major agreement on air defense systems. The Indian government has decided to purchase the advanced Pantsir air defense system from Russia. The agreement was reached at the fifth India-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee breakout meeting in Goa.
The deal was struck with Russian arms export company Rosoboronexport. According to the agreement, Russia and India will carry out the manufacturing, technology transfer and joint development of the Pantsir air defense system. Under this agreement, India aims to achieve self-reliance in defense production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Characteristics of the Pantsir air defense system
Pantsir is a multi-purpose mobile platform designed to protect Army bases and other infrastructure from air attacks. It has the capability to destroy aircraft, drones and precision-guided munitions. With its advanced radar and tracking system, it is able to identify and destroy targets up to 36 kilometers away and at an altitude of up to 15 kilometers. The Pantsir system has 12 missiles and two twin 30mm cannons with a range of up to 20 kilometers and can destroy air targets at an altitude of 15 kilometers.
The ability to strike accurately
The system is an automatic surface-to-air anti-missile air defense system. It also has the capability to destroy aircraft, helicopters, precision strike weapons and cruise missiles. The Pantsir system protects military, industrial and administrative institutions from enemy air attacks and is also capable of destroying drones. It has 12 two-stage solid-fuel missiles that can destroy targets flying at speeds up to 1000 m/s and 1300 m/s. Its 20kg warhead is designed to destroy enemy projectiles such as fixed-wing aircraft, missiles and large drones.
