Russia has acknowledged the inadequacy of the Pantsir-S1 air defense system against drones, including those tasked with protecting Putin's residence near Moscow, according to an analysis by Defense Express.

In response, Russia is promoting the use of a new version of the system, the Pantsir-SMD-E, which is equipped with up to 48 small-sized TKB-1055 missiles. However, this updated model lacks the guns present in its predecessor.

Analysts point out that anti-aircraft artillery is particularly effective against UAV-type targets. The German-made Gepard anti-aircraft system, for instance, has demonstrated remarkable efficiency in real combat with minimal ammunition consumption. Artillery systems that use ammunition with programmed detonation, like Skynex, have proven to be highly effective, something Russia has yet to replicate.

The decision to rely on TKB-1055 mini-missiles for intercepting drones is viewed as problematic by experts. They argue that effective anti-drone systems must be capable of intercepting large numbers of drones swiftly. The Pantsir system struggles with this due to its limitations: it can only target four drones within a ±45-degree sector and two within a ±90-degree sector. Additionally, all missiles must be guided to the target, rendering the system ineffective against a swarm of drones.