Ukraine’s FP-2 Strike Drones Destroy Russian Pantsir-S2 Air Defense System

Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S2 air defense system using FP-2 strike drones, with footage showing the system burning before its ammunition detonated and tore the vehicle apart.

According to Ukrainian open-source monitoring channel Exilenova+ on October 3, the Pantsir-S2 had been interfering with Ukrainian drone operations and preventing UAVs from reaching targets deeper behind Russian lines.

Video published by the channel shows a Ukrainian FP-2 striking the Russian air defense system at night. A fire subsequently broke out on the vehicle, followed by secondary explosions that destroyed much of the system.

Additional footage recorded nearby reportedly captured another FP-2 approaching the Pantsir-S2 after the initial strike. By that point, however, the system had already sustained extensive damage.

Images taken after the attack show the burned remains of the crew cabin and components of the rotating combat module scattered around the site.

Exilenova+ did not disclose where or exactly when the strike occurred. The channel said the Pantsir-S2 had been obstructing Ukrainian drones attempting to penetrate farther into Russia’s rear areas.

The Pantsir-S2 is an upgraded version of Russia’s Pantsir family of short-range air defense systems. It combines surface-to-air missiles with 30 mm automatic cannons and is designed to engage aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The S2 variant features an upgraded target-detection radar intended to improve the system’s ability to detect and track aerial targets.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian S-300 transport-loading vehicle carrying surface-to-air missiles, triggering a secondary detonation that completely burned out the vehicle.

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