(VIDEO) Shocking Discovery: Russian Pantsir-S1 Air Defense System Found at US Military Base in California!
The presence of this lethal Russian weapon at a US facility is almost certainly for deep technical analysis and reverse engineering, an intelligence goldmine for the Pentagon.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the defense community, a Russian Pantsir-S1E air defense system, a sophisticated hybrid of missiles and anti-aircraft guns, has surfaced at a top-secret US military base in California.
Dramatic images and videos of the highly classified Russian air defense system being transported under tight security to the American airbase have been spreading across social media, sparking intense speculation about its purpose on US soil.
The presence of this lethal and advanced Russian air defence system at a US facility is almost certainly for deep technical analysis and reverse engineering, an intelligence goldmine for the Pentagon.
The Pantsir-S1E, reportedly snatched from Libya’s armed group in a daring mission in June 2020, was first flown to Ramstein Air Base in Germany aboard a US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft, before making its way to the United States.
In a covert mission that could be straight out of a spy thriller, elite US special forces executed a high-risk operation in mid-2020, infiltrating Libyan territory to exfiltrate one of Russia’s most advanced air defense systems.
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Their objective? To tear apart and uncover the secrets of the Kremlin’s prized anti-aircraft weapon, a system hailed as a cornerstone of Russia’s modern battlefield superiority.
At the time of its capture, the Pantsir-S1 was in the hands of General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), having been procured from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of a broader military alliance.
By securing the Pantsir-S1, the US not only acquired unprecedented intelligence on Russian air defense capabilities but also prevented the system from falling into the hands of extremist groups, a move that could have altered the balance of power in the region.
According to British newspaper The Times, the covert mission in June 2020 demanded the deployment of a massive C-17A Globemaster, as the prized Russian system was too large and too valuable to be left behind.
The operation unfolded at Zuwarah Airport, west of Tripoli, where the US Air Force swooped in under the cover of night to seize, secure, and airlift the Pantsir-S1 out of Libya.
The strategic transport aircraft then made a high-stakes journey to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, a vital nerve center for US military operations in Europe.
At Ramstein Air Base, a team of top US military engineers and intelligence analysts meticulously dismantled the Pantsir-S1, peeling back the layers of Russian technology to expose its inner workings.
This sophisticated hybrid defense system, designed to obliterate aerial threats with deadly precision, consists of:
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Six state-of-the-art surface-to-air missiles
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Two high-powered 30mm autocannons
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Cutting-edge radar, sensors, and electronic warfare components
Built as the successor to the Tunguska air defense system, the Pantsir-S1 can engage targets at ranges of up to 20 km and altitudes of 50,000 feet, making it a formidable threat to enemy aircraft.
The Pantsir system has been widely deployed by Russian forces, not just in Libya but also in Syria and, more crucially, the battlefields of Ukraine.
The capture of the Pantsir-S1 in Libya has likely provided critical intelligence that has shaped US military operations, proving instrumental in helping Ukrainian forces counter relentless Russian aerial assaults in the ongoing Eastern European conflict.
By analyzing the system’s components, US military researchers have gained insights into the materials and engineering behind Russian defense technology, exposing the true capabilities of Moscow’s military-industrial complex.
More significantly, the Pentagon has been able to develop cutting-edge countermeasures, neutralizing the threats, tactics, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) associated with the Pantsir-S1, potentially shifting the balance in modern air defense warfare.
What was once Russia’s prized guardian of the skies has now become an open book for US military strategists—a trophy of war that may have already altered the course of global conflicts.
— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
