Russia unveiled the new Pantsir-S1M; one of them has already been destroyed near Mariupol
During the “Center-2026” exercises, Russia demonstrated a new variant of the “Pantsir-S1M” anti-aircraft missile and gun system, mounted on a Belarusian MZKT wheeled chassis. However, Russian forces have already lost one such system near Mariupol.
The “Pantsir-S1M” variant on the MZKT chassis is reportedly intended to solve two problems for the Russians at once. This demonstration can be considered the first official presentation of this type of weaponry by the occupying forces.
The existence of a “Pantsir” variant on a chassis from the “Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant” ("MZKT") became known in late February, when operators of the 413th Regiment of the “Reid” Unmanned Systems Forces struck one of these systems in a non-standard configuration near “Azovstal” in Mariupol.
Subsequently, in April, information emerged from a Belarusian opposition investigation claiming that Russia had ordered 18 MZKT-7930-312 chassis from Belarus for use with the “Pantsir-S1” air defense system, which may have taken place that same year.
Work on this had been underway earlier
At the same time, analysts note that as early as the 2000s, the Russians were working on a “Pantsir” variant mounted on an “MZKT” chassis, which was demonstrated at the “MAKS-2009” airshow.
“Considering that the ‘Pantsir’ on the Belarusian MZKT chassis has only been ‘seen’ twice this year, it appears that the number of vehicles produced is only 18,” the website notes, adding that the Russians themselves intend to use them only on a limited basis.
Solving the Russians’ Problems
It is noted that the standard KAMAZ chassis for the “Pantsir” demonstrated poor stability and off-road capability. Meanwhile, the Belarusian “MZKT” found itself in a difficult situation around 2024 due to a lack of new orders.
Thus, the “Pantsir-S1M” variant based on the “MZKT” chassis “solved two problems for the Russians at once”: the system received a better wheelbase, and “the Belarusian partners received an order that was important to them.”
This was reported by the Ukrainian military portal Defense Express.
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