In order to test the U.S. Armed Forces’ F-16 and F/A-18 fighter jets, with a particular focus on the performance of the new Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, the American company Lockheed Martin has built mock-ups of the Russian Pantsir air defense system. As observed in the published images, the design is mounted on a Peterbilt 320-type cargo platform, which has led to its unofficial designation as “Peter Pantsir.”
Expanding on the details, open-source intelligence (OSINT) indicates that these mock-ups serve as valuable tools for assessing the current functionality of the targeting systems installed on the aforementioned aircraft, as well as for advancing improvements in detection algorithms for future developments. Specifically, this translates into various enhancements for the Sniper pod’s electro-optical sensors, radar-guided missile systems, and new strategies to counteract electronic warfare systems deployed by adversaries.
Additionally, there is speculation that these mock-ups may also be used by so-called OPFOR units—U.S. military forces that participate in training exercises simulating enemy forces. These units are trained in the doctrines and tactics of potential adversaries and are equipped with platforms resembling those operated by hostile forces, all with the aim of creating highly realistic training scenarios for personnel. Examples of such units can be found at U.S. Army bases in California and Louisiana, as well as in Germany.
It is worth recalling that the U.S. has long been interested in acquiring and analyzing air defense systems from potential adversaries, as this is believed to aid in updating tactics and equipment to counter them. In addition to constructing the aforementioned mock-up, a notable example is the 2020 seizure of a Pantsir-S1 system in Libya, which was later transported to Ramstein Air Base via a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft. The system had been supplied by the United Arab Emirates to the Libyan National Army (LNA).
Following this logic, other precedents exist regarding the construction of mock-ups of enemy air defense systems for training purposes, many of which replicate Russian-made systems. For instance, in 2023, a series of four mock-ups of Tor-M1 and S-300 systems were spotted in Ohio being transported by freight train—both platforms have been used in the war in Ukraine. In 2024, mock-ups of SA-22 Greyhound (Pantsir-S2) and SA-17 Grizzly (Buk-M2) systems were also seen during U.S. Air Force exercises, deployed by members of the USAF’s 325th Fighter Wing.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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