Russians Install Towers for Pantsir SAMs Near Kerch Bridge

22 September, 2024 A tower with an air defense system installed on the southern side of Tuzla Island in the Kerch Strait.

09/21/2024. Photo: social media The Russians are constructing special towers to install air defense systems on Tuzla Island in Crimea, according to a report by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIJ).

CIJ investigators discovered two towers equipped with Pantsir-S1M anti-aircraft missiles and gun systems. They also examined the areas where these and other structures are being stored. Publicly available photos and videos show that, over the course of a week, Russian forces erected two metal towers on either side of the bridge on Tuzla Island.

These towers appear to stand approximately 30-35 meters above sea level.

Towers on the island of Tuzla near the Kerch Bridge, where Russians have installed the Pantsir-S1M anti-aircraft missile and gun system. September 2024. Photo credits: social media.

Collage: investigator.org.ua

At the top of each tower, the Russians placed a Pantsir-S1M anti-aircraft missile and gun system, or rather, the warheads themselves without a chassis. In early September, the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) spotted the Pantsir-S1M anti-aircraft missile and gun system on the Kerch Bridge for the first time.

Stationary Pantsir system

In August 2024, Militarnyi reported on a new stationary version of the Pantsyr system with short- and medium-range missiles. In this version, the launcher is mounted on a frame that can be easily installed on a truck chassis for transportation.

Updated Pantsir SAM.

Photo from open sources

The standard TLC (there are in total 7 on the launcher) belongs to the 95Ya6 or 95Ya6SM, which are typical for this system. The smaller TLCs (in total 20 on the launcher) may belong to the promising 19Ya6 anti-aircraft missile. The Russians have already installed Pantsir systems on the roofs of buildings and even on special towers, so they may have needed a lighter launcher.

Pantsir SAM on the tower and on the roof of the building.

Photo from open sources

Given these factors, it can be concluded that the updated Pantsir may have been designed to perform targeted air defense tasks at short and medium range.

It is likely to be deployed at important industrial, energy, and administrative facilities or at special firing positions.