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 Tungushka, and its upgraded version
Pantsir, are hybrid air defense systems, employing air defense
guns and missiles on an integrated platform. The 2S6M1 Tungushka
is a 35 ton armoured air defense system, designed to defend mobile
combat units in field deployments or on the move, as well as
stationary point targets. Tungushka can engage low flying or
hovering helicopters as well as fast strike aircraft (up to 500
m/sec). The system can operate day and night, under low visibility
and adverse weather conditions. A mobile air defense unit utilizes
a radar carrier, operating the TAR 9C18M1 radar, (nato code name
"Hot Shot") linked to the
battery command vehicle, which directs fire commands to up to six
firing units.
Each Tungushka fire unit has a crew of four, it
carries an integral radar, four pairs of 9M311-1M (SA-19) missiles
which can be independently elevated, and 2A38M twin barrel 30mm AA
guns firing HE-AP and HE-IT projectiles. The missile uses a SACLOS
(Semi-Active Command to Line of Sight) radio command, with optical
line of sight override. The battery also has 3 to 6 ammunition
reloading trucks, which transport one reload package of eight
missiles and 1904 gun cartridges.
 The system offers reaction time of 8 seconds, with
effective target detection range of 18km, and tracking range of
16km. Engagement altitude is between 15m' to 3.5km for the
missiles (2,500 m' to 10km. range) and 0 – 3,000 meters altitude (200 m' –
4km. range) for the guns.
Among the operators of the system
is the Indian Army, which has already received ten batteries. Four
additional batteries are on order. (New order announced December
20, 2005)
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