#Tunguska AD
I love Air defense systems,
In my beginnings, I started to read about #Egypt modern wars, then I realized through my readings that our AD was one the biggest reasons of our victory in October 1973 war, at that time,

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I noticed that the AD in October war suffered from few issues like :

1- Most of our AD weapons were stationed like SA-2 & SA-3.

2- Only the SA-6 radar & launchers were tank tread vehicles & the other units like transloader, crane, P-15,

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PRV-16 radars were wheeled vehicles, which means they will have difficulties moving in desert area.

3- Time to setup SA-6 unit for engagement also have limitation in attacking very low or high-altitude targets.

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4- The radar ZSU-23-4 wasn’t enough in number or tactics at that time to protect ground moving units, it was vulnerable against TV missiles & AGM-45 Shrike.

5- Other IR missile systems, Israeli fighters & bombers did avoid it by flares.

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Then after that I started to read books, news & magazines about other wars and weapons, I was wondering why there is no AD system have the following:

1- Tank tread vehicles can move in easy or hard territories.

2- Can attack very low and medium altitude targets.

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3- Quick response & engagement.
4- Have both weapons, guided missiles & guns.
5- Not IR seeker.

Till I saw the #Tunguska (SPAAGM), and since that time, I think I’m in love with it:

1- Tank tread vehicle, can escort moving troops in easy or hard territories.

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2- All weather day and night, operation.

3- Can detect & engage (AA only) will moving.

4- Have both weapons guided missiles (9М311-1M) & guns, twin-barrel 30mm AA.

5- SAM guidance SACLOS.

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The successor of Tunguska is the Pantsir, the Pantsir solved all the issues & the limitation of the Tunguska, also in can be integrated with the strategic AD systems.
Pantsir have different versions, one of my favorite versions are:

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Pantsir-S1 on a tracked GM-352 chassis which is similar to the Tunguska.

The Pantsir-SA. It was developed specifically for use in the arctic region.

At the end, I want to share few things:

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The combination of missiles & guns in AD system is lethal , I would like to share some of what I liked:

The German Flakpanzer Gepard with stinger missiles

Egyptian ZSU-23-4 "Shilka” with Igla.

Israeli Machbet , which it’s a M163 PIVADS with stingers.

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I hope one day we can see the combination of Tor-M2E & Kashtan CIWS, this would be really crazy :D

New info:

11/12

According to General Ayman Hob Aldean who was a Major & commander of SA-2 battalion "418" in 1973 war, After the outstanding performance of #Egyptian AD in October war a lot of AD experts & weapons manufacturers world wide interviewed the AD personal.

Regards

Waleed

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Info:
Military abbreviations & acronyms in my article:
AD = Air defense
IR= Infrared
SPAAGM = Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun/missile
AA = Anti Air
SACLOS = Semi-automatic command to line of sight

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