russia is rushing to bolster Moscow's air defense system in response to Ukrainian long-range drone attacks. As a result, russians are deploying Pantsir-SMD air defense systems on civilian high-rise buildings using Mi-26 helicopters.
A video has emerged online showing the system being deployed on the roof of the Nord Star business center in northwestern Moscow. Work is continuing despite adverse weather conditions.
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From Defense Express we would like to note that this footage suggests that russians are in a bit of a rush to bolster its air defense capabilities. They could have waited for better weather, but instead are operating in poor conditions, where the risks of failure and accidents are higher.
It is also interesting to note that the system shown in the video is the Pantsir-SMD-E, which lacks cannons and relies exclusively on missile armament. It was first unveiled back in August 2024 at the Armiya-2024 exhibition.
The system uses either 12 standard 57E6E missiles, capable of intercepting targets at ranges of 1.2–20 km and altitudes of up to 15 km, or 48 TKB-1055 missiles, which can shoot down targets at ranges of 0.5 to 7 km and altitudes of up to five km. The latter are being promoted specifically as a countermeasure against UAVs and have already been supplied to russian forces.
In addition to being capable of firing specialized anti-drone missiles, the Pantsir-SMD-E was most likely chosen because it is available in a stationary configuration. This variant is well-suited for installation on rooftops due to its compact size and lighter weight. At the same time, the lack of cannons does not appear to be an issue.
Overall, russia continues to strengthen Moscow's air defense capabilities amid an increase in Ukrainian long-range strikes. The threat is serious enough to warrant action even under unfavorable conditions. At the same time, a large ring of Pantsir systems already surrounds Moscow, deployed on military buildings and special elevated towers. Civilian buildings now appear to have been added to this network.
It is worth noting that russia recently unveiled the ZAK-30 Citadel anti-aircraft artillery system, which is also stationary and designed to counter drones. However, questions remain about its potential effectiveness.
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