The Russian short-range anti-aircraft missile-cannon system (ZRPK) "Shell-S" received the latest hypersonic missile, which develops a speed of more than five Mach numbers. This was told in an interview with TASS Valery Slugin - chief designer for air defense systems of the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP, Tula) named after Shipunova.

“The speed is needed to quickly fly up to the target, - this increases the rate of fire of the complex, because the firing channel is freed faster. In addition, you don’t have to put a lot of explosives into the warhead to disperse the fragments: the faster the speed of impact - the more efficient the fragments, ”said Slugin.

According to him, a hypersonic missile, like other ammunition of the "Shell", are not equipped with homing heads. As the specialist explained, their presence a priori reduces speed. In addition, when firing at close range, all tasks “can be solved by the remote control system of a missile from a combat vehicle,” Slugin specified.

The chief designer also spoke about the research work launched to create a small-sized anti-aircraft missile designed to intercept small drones. The entire development cycle, according to Slugin, will take about three to four years. The main advantage of the rocket will be its small size and low cost.

“The current Pantsir missiles hit 20-30 km, but a small-sized low-speed drone does not need to be shot down at such a range. Now we are striking such targets at a distance of five to seven km, in the so-called near zone. Why then put so much gunpowder in a rocket, put such powerful engines. It is economically feasible to make a small rocket, ”he explained.

Flagship Air Defense

The Russian Ministry of Defense calls the “Shell” “the flagship of the domestic short-range air defense system.” The complex is designed to cover long-range anti-aircraft systems S-300 and S-400, as well as the protection of civilian and military installations. The brainchild of Tula designers is capable of hitting a wide range of targets: airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, aerial bombs, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), lightly armored vehicles.

“With the introduction of the complex into anti-aircraft gun groupings, their greatest efficiency and stability under the conditions of electronic and fire countermeasures and the maximum adaptability of the entire air defense system to changes in the tactical and technical characteristics of air attack systems and methods of their combat use are ensured,” reads the materials of the RF Ministry of Defense .

  • ZRPK "Shell" firing anti-aircraft missile
  • © JSC KBP

The combined armor of the “Shell” allows shelling air targets “across the entire depth of the affected area, starting from long-range high-altitude targets and ending with suddenly appearing small-sized objects,” the military indicates.

The armor of the “Carapace” includes two 30-mm 2A38M automatic guns and 12 rocket launchers of 90 mm caliber. ZRPK able to simultaneously detect up to ten targets and fire up to four. The ammunition of the complex is 12 missiles and 1.4 thousand cannon shots.

According to the developer, the range of the Armor’s missile destruction zone is from 200 m to 20 km, and its height is from 0 m to 15 km. ZRPK artillery guns can destroy targets at a distance of 200 to 4 thousand meters and at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters.

KBP experts attribute the advantages of the “Shell” to the all-weather and all-day operation, the ability to shoot on the move, an anti-jamming radar-optical control system, the autonomy of combat work and the modular construction principle, which allows you to place the complex on a wheeled and tracked chassis.

The development of the "Shell" started in the 1990s based on the experience of using the Tunguska-M self-propelled air defense system 2K22M. The complex was put into service on November 16, 2012 and gained great popularity among the Russian and foreign military.

In different years, the “Shell” was delivered to Algeria, the UAE, Iraq, Syria, Oman, Jordan, Brazil and Ethiopia. In January, RIA Novosti, citing a source in the field of military-technical cooperation (MTC), reported that Serbia acquired the domestic air defense missile system. The implementation of the contract should be completed in 2020. Cameroon also became interested in the “Shell”.

In 2015, Tula engineers created a marine version of the "Shell". Now it is installed on small missile ships of project 22800 (code "Karakurt"). Later, as analysts expect, they will be equipped with other new ships built for the Russian Navy. In addition, Moscow is actively promoting the marine modification of air defense missile systems for export.

Reliable protection

Experts interviewed by RT link the growth of the combat capabilities of the "Shell" and the appearance in its arsenal of the latest hypersonic missiles with the modernization process, which should be completed in 2021. According to experts, the complex will become more accurate and will be able to hit targets at a greater range.

“The Pantsir has a huge modernization potential due to the installation of more advanced radar equipment, control systems, the creation of new anti-aircraft missiles, and an increase in ammunition. The modernization of the complex will positively affect the defense capability of the Russian Federation, and Moscow will most likely conclude new export contracts for the supply of Shell, ”military expert Yuri Lyamin said in a conversation with RT.

In his opinion, the modernization of air defense missile systems is carried out, including taking into account the experience gained in the SAR. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian calculations of the “Shell” flawlessly reflect the regular attacks of terrorist drones.

  • ZRPK "Shell" in Syria
  • RIA News
  • © Dmitry Vinogradov

In June last year, in an commentary to RIA Novosti, the industrial director of the Rostec conventional arms cluster, Sergei Abramov, said that the improved air defense system would receive significantly higher tactical and technical characteristics.

According to the KBP, the firing range of the upgraded "Shell" missile weapons will double, up to 40 km, and the radius of detection of airborne objects - from 36 to 75 km. Also, the maximum speed of hitting targets will increase significantly - from 1300 m / s to 3000 m / s.

Tula designers also took care of increasing the ammunition of the complex. "Shell" will be produced separately in a rocket version. Ammunition of this modification will be 24 missiles against the current 12 units.

In addition, the updated ZRPK will have better driving characteristics thanks to the KamAZ-53958 Tornado chassis (now the Armor is available on the KamAZ-6560 platform), which can withstand loads of up to 20-25 tons.

Director of the Air Defense Forces Museum in Balashikha, Yuri Knutov, told RT that the modernization of the "Shell" is mainly aimed at increasing the ability to destroy high-speed ammunition (using the latest hypersonic missiles) and small targets - artisanal UAVs, mines, and MLRS shells.

“The combat experience in Syria allowed us to determine the direction of improving the characteristics of the“ Shell ”. The updated complex will be able to “see” and destroy targets even with a very small reflective surface. The effectiveness of the destruction of these and other objects will increase significantly. In practice, this will mean even more reliable protection for our Khmeimim airbase and other Russian military infrastructure, wherever it is, ”Knutov summed up.