The Russian self-propelled anti-aircraft missile-gun complex (ZRPK) “Pantsir-C1”, stolen in Libya, is needed by the American military not to study its technical characteristics. This is the conclusion reached by the journalist of The National Interest Caleb Larson.
He agreed that the “Shell” was of little value to intelligence. The United States could have studied the complex earlier, since this technique was adopted by the United Arab Emirates. Nevertheless, the very fact of the removal of the “Pantsir” indicates that some useful information can be extracted from this complex, despite Moscow's statements that the opposite is true.
Another target could be some kind of “signal” to the Russian military in Libya. This theory is supported by the fact that in 2019 the Pantsir-C1 was shot down by the American MQ-9 Reaper attack drone.
However, the main benefit from the carried out operation with the removal of air defense missile systems from Tripoli to the Ramstein military base in Germany is that the Pentagon has a training facility. “Taking possession of a whole and workable” Pantsir “is a great success for those who are engaged in combat training, since this is not a simulation model, but a real enemy technique,” Larson is sure.
Earlier, The Times reported that the United States had kidnapped Russian-made Pantsir-C1 in Libya in July 2020. The ZRPK was removed from the battlefield and is currently located at Ramstein airbase in Germany. The publication writes that “Pantsir-C1” was “delivered safe and sound.”
Vice-President of the Academy of Military Sciences (AVN) Sergey Modestov noted that getting to the United States of the air defense missile system is a negative fact, but it will not have serious consequences for Russia. He explained that the equipment supplied for export is prepared for such situations.
