Russia Airlifts Pantsir-SMD-E to 42-Story Moscow Tower as Ukraine Deepens 2,000-km Drone Threat
Updated
Updated · EurAsian Times · May 30
Russia Airlifts Pantsir-SMD-E to 42-Story Moscow Tower as Ukraine Deepens 2,000-km Drone Threat
4 articles · Updated · EurAsian Times · May 30
A Russian Mi-26 helicopter was filmed placing a Pantsir-SMD-E counter-drone system on the roof of Moscow’s 42-story Nordstar Tower, a sign the capital is hardening prominent buildings against Ukrainian strikes.
The rooftop deployment appears aimed at low-flying drones that evade longer-range defenses: the missile-only SMD-E can carry 48 mini-missiles or 12 short-range missiles, track 40 targets and gain clearer sightlines from elevated positions.
OSINT analyst Mark Krutov has counted at least 100 such systems across Moscow, with earlier placements reported near the Defense Ministry’s command structure and close to President Vladimir Putin’s residence.
The buildup follows a sharp rise in Ukrainian long-range attacks, including more than 1,300 drones launched over two days on May 17; some reached Moscow, killing about four people and hitting energy, industrial and military sites.
Even so, rooftop Pantsirs are a last-line shield rather than a cure-all, as single batteries can be saturated by large swarms and may still struggle against very small or terrain-hugging drones.
Can Moscow's rooftop missile systems truly stop a massive drone swarm, or is it just an expensive show of force?
With missiles on Moscow's skyline, has Ukraine's drone strategy forced Russia into a permanent defensive posture at home?