New targeting system to double range of Russia's Pantsir: Report

Russia's next-generation Pantsir-SM air defense system will be able to hit targets 24 miles away, twice the range of its S1 predecessor, Russian media reported Thursday.

The upgraded combined surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system will be equipped with a multi-functional targeting system, Alexander Khomyakov, CEO and chief designer of Rostec affiliate Instrument Design Bureau KBP, told reporters.

"The newly developed multi-functional targeting system incorporating an active phased array radar doubles Pantsir's effective range," Khomyakov was quoted as saying.

While the current Pantsir-S1 has a range of about 12 miles, the new array will be able to identify targets at a distance of about 45 miles.

The components of the new system are in the testing phase.

It will be armed with a high-speed missile as well.