Pantsir-M is the Russian naval member of the Pantsir missile-gun air-defense family, combining ready-to-fire surface-to-air missiles, a rapid-fire gun mount, radar, and optical fire control for ship self-defense against cruise missiles, UAVs, aircraft, and other air threats. Open reporting ties the system to Project 22800 Karakurt-class ships, North Korea's Choe Hyon destroyer, and a Russian claim of Storm Shadow engagements during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
RIA Novosti reported an April 2024 statement by High Precision Systems chief Oleg Ryazantsev that a Russian ship on combat duty used the serial Pantsir-M system in the war zone to engage Storm Shadow cruise missiles; the same report identified Project 22800 Tsiklon as the Black Sea Fleet ship with Pantsir-M in open data.
Role detailsPantsir-M adapts the Pantsir family point-defense concept to a shipboard mount: missiles provide the outer close-in layer, while rapid-fire 30 mm guns cover very short-range follow-up engagements. Rostec descriptions emphasize the combined turret, integrated radar/optical control, near-zero blind spot claim, and ability to attack several targets in a sector.
Pantsir-ME is the export version publicly marketed at Defexpo, IDEX, and Russian naval exhibitions.
Official descriptions name cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, UAVs, air bombs, helicopters, and aircraft.
The Ukraine-war row is based on Russian official/media claims; open sources checked here did not independently verify the Storm Shadow intercept result.
Pantsir-M is the Russian naval system; Pantsir-ME is the export designation shown at international defense exhibitions.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pantsir-ME | Export naval missile-gun system | Rostec presented Pantsir-ME as the export naval anti-missile and anti-aircraft system, with a 20 km protective radius and 15 km stated air-defense height. Sources: Rostec Pantsir-ME Naval System |
Public reporting places Pantsir-M on later Russian Project 22800 Karakurt-class ships and identifies a Pantsir-M fit on North Korea's Choe Hyon destroyer.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Guided-missile corvette | Naval News reported Odintsovo as the first Project 22800 ship armed with Pantsir-M, while RIA Novosti later identified Project 22800 Tsiklon as the Black Sea Fleet ship with Pantsir-M in open data. Sources: Naval News Odintsovo State Trials, RIA Novosti Pantsir-M Ukraine War Claim |
 | Guided-missile destroyer | CSIS assessed that the Choe Hyon destroyer's air-defense system includes the Russian Pantsir-M, while noting uncertainty over whether North Korea directly acquired the system or received production rights. Sources: CSIS Choe Hyon Pantsir-M |
Naval News/TASS reporting described Pantsir-M as first displayed at the International Naval Salon in St. Petersburg in July 2015, with a Pantsir-ME export option also created.
Sources: Naval News Odintsovo Commissioned With Pantsir-M
Rostec said Pantsir-ME would be presented outside Russia for the first time at Defexpo India 2018.
Sources: Rostec Pantsir-ME Naval System
Naval News reported Russian Navy statements that Project 22800 Odintsovo had completed trials as the first surface ship armed with the Pantsir-M missile/gun system.
Sources: Naval News Odintsovo State Trials
RIA Novosti reported a High Precision Systems/Rostec claim that a ship on combat duty used Pantsir-M in the Ukraine war zone to engage Storm Shadow missiles.
Sources: RIA Novosti Pantsir-M Ukraine War Claim
CSIS assessed that North Korea's newly launched Choe Hyon destroyer included the Russian Pantsir-M air-defense system.
Sources: CSIS Choe Hyon Pantsir-M
