The various lessons learned over more than three years of conflict in Ukraine are having a significant impact on the different air defense platforms employed by the Russian Armed Forces. One of the most notable cases is that of the Pantsir short- and very-short-range air defense systems, which are undergoing upgrades, alongside the introduction of new versions and the development of missiles specifically designed to counter drones.
In this context, it was confirmed a few days ago that the High-Precision Systems holding company carried out the latest delivery of new “mini-missiles” intended to equip the Pantsir systems of the Russian Armed Forces. These missiles “…are designed to engage a wide range of targets at close range, including unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Although the official statement does not mention it, this new class of anti-drone mini-missiles is designated TKB-1055, and its development is closely linked to the introduction of the new version of the Pantsir system, designated Pantsir-SMD-E, unveiled during the 2024 edition of the ARMY exhibition.
As seen in various photographs released at that time by Rostec, in addition to improvements in sensor systems, new missile launchers of smaller size compared to the 57E6 can also be observed. These allow for multiple configurations to address a variety of aerial threats, both manned and unmanned.
Regarding these new mini-missiles, Bekhan Ozdoev, Industrial Director of the Armament Cluster at the state corporation Rostec, highlighted that they allow “…a significant increase in the Pantsir’s ammunition load, up to 48 projectiles. As a result, the system can intercept a larger number of aerial targets, such as drones. This makes it much more difficult for the enemy to deplete the system’s arsenal while attempting to breach the air defense line.”
Furthermore, the delivery of this batch of mini-missiles —the first to be officially announced by the Russian state consortium— adds to a previous one consisting of 57E6 missiles. This could be an indication that the Russian Armed Forces are already introducing the new Pantsir-SMD-E version into service, although it has not been specified whether they are being deployed within Russian territory or in the Ukrainian theater of operations.
Finally, regarding the characteristics of the TKB-1055 mini-missiles, they reportedly have a shorter range compared to the 57E6, with the former estimated to reach up to seven kilometers, versus nearly twenty kilometers for the latter. Nevertheless, the reduced size and range come with the advantage of a higher number of missiles available to Pantsir operators for countering threats such as FPV-type drones —presumably at a much lower cost than using the 57E6.
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